Sheffield-based Productive Machines, a provider of autonomous machine tool optimisation technology, announced at MACH 2024 this week (Hall 6, Stand 60), that it has made its core technology available as a fully automated Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offering Productive Machines’ pioneering SenseNC Finesse software is the world’s first to provide automated optimisation of all milling operations, enabling manufacturers to set up each machine tool and run the production preventing chatter vibrations at every cutter location across the toolpath.

The software uses an Artificial Intelligence (AI) model to optimise machine processes and is in operation at more than 10 major manufacturers already, including Renault and MASA Aerospace. By making it available as an automated SaaS product, Productive Machines aims to help many more manufacturers globally eliminate trial and error iterations on machine tools, reduce waste and deliver better products faster.

Machines configured with Productive Machines’ have demonstrated the ability to produce parts in half the original time, significantly improve surface quality, and reduce waste by up to 25%. Users have reported a substantial decrease in tooling costs, up to 20%, on optimised machines.

SenseNC Finesse is now available to manufacturers using Siemens NX CAM software via a software plug-in, enabling them to improve the performance of existing machines within their chosen CAM environment. Productive Machines will launch a plug-in for Mastercam users this summer and make its software available to users of CAM software from other vendors in the coming months.

Dr Erdem Ozturk, Productive Machines CEO, said: “Since the beginning of our journey, manufacturers have told us they needed an optimisation solution that doesn’t need extensive experience to use. We’ve poured more than 100 years of our cumulative machining dynamics and software engineering expertise into creating our autonomous, easy-to-use solution that machine operators, application engineers and CAM programmers of all levels can use to use machine tools to their full potential.”

“We have successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of our technology in some of the world’s most sophisticated manufacturing environments, and this launch is a huge milestone in making it accessible to all machine shops that want to reduce lead times and enhance quality, productivity, and sustainability.”