Fortunately, making the production more sustainable doesn’t have to mean high costs and productivity sacrifices. In fact, thoughtful adjustments to processes and methods can simultaneously improve a business’s profitability and decrease its environmental impact by reducing waste and increasing efficiency.
Examples of Sustainability
Use more durable tools
Tools often end up directly in the garbage after individual components have worn out. There are ways to reuse these tools by revitalizing or properly recycling them. APSX machines prefer using these types of tools.
Get efficient on tool usage
An example of this is to use the same tool for different production orders: It is not necessary to use another tool for different workpiece geometries. It can save time and money.
Get efficient on machine usage
One machine can be used for different features of the product by eliminating unnecessary features to save time and money. The use of multiple axis machines can cut down running time drastically. For example: A Swiss CNC lathe can replace a CNC machine and a lathe. Plus, not using a full size industrial machinery for a simple and small part production can save huge time and resources. The APSX machine size is perfect for these small quantity projects.
Get efficient on workpiece preparation
Even before machining, the workpieces are adapted to the shape of the finished component in order to reduce the allowance for machining as much as possible. We use waterjet cut slightly oversized blanks in APSX LLC: The closer the blank is to the finished component, the faster the job is done and, as an additional benefit, there is less chip waste in production. Consequently, the roughing operation during milling, for example, is reduced.
Reduce the waste (metal chips, coolants, lubricants)
Metal chips and other production waste are collected by the manufacturing companies themselves or by specialized recycling companies and returned to the raw metal extraction process. People are increasingly turning to minimum quantity lubrication instead of large quantities of coolants and other lubricants. With the APSX machines, these wastes are at a minimum due to the nature of the APSX machine size and design.
Reduce the energy consumption
Use energy efficient machines to reduce the carbon footprint. The smaller the machines you use, the minimum the energy consumption results. Each APSX machine can be used with a standard 110V wall outlet.
Use machines with automation software
The aim must be to get to the finished product on the machine quickly and easily. If more machined parts are good parts because the repeatability of the processes is improved, this has a direct impact on the conservation of resources.
Sustainability by UCLA: https://www.sustain.ucla.edu/what-is-sustainability/
Sustainable practices support ecological, human, and economic health and vitality. Sustainability presumes that resources are finite, and should be used conservatively and wisely with a view to long-term priorities and consequences of how resources are used.
Sustainable Manufacturing by EPA: https://www.epa.gov/sustainability/sustainable-manufacturing
A large and growing number of manufacturers are realizing substantial financial and environmental benefits from sustainable business practices. Sustainable manufacturing is the creation of manufactured products through economically-sound processes that minimize negative environmental impacts while conserving energy and natural resources. Sustainable manufacturing also enhances employee, community and product safety.
There are several reasons why companies are pursuing sustainability: Two are more important than others:
- Increase operational efficiency by reducing costs and waste
- Respond to regulatory constraints and opportunities
European Tool and Mold Making Mag: https://www.etmm-online.com/10-examples-of-sustainability-in-machine-tool-manufacturing-a-903599/