IN-HOUSE MANUFACTURING AS A STRATEGIC SAFEGUARD

The company’s machines and systems are designed and assembled entirely in-house. While many components are sourced from external suppliers, Schiele also operates its own machine shop equipped with milling and turning machines. “In theory, we could manufacture almost any part we need ourselves,” explains Maik Schmitt, training manager and the person responsible for NC programming at the company. “Given our production volumes, complete in-house manufacturing would not be economical. However, if a customer’s system goes down or we need a spare part on short notice, we can respond quickly. We also make extensive use of our machining capabilities for prototype development.” 

The importance of flexible NC programming becomes particularly evident in prototype manufacturing. New components often begin with an initial design and undergo multiple modifications during the development process. As a result, NC programs frequently need to be revised or created from scratch. This is where HEIDENHAIN’s new vTNC7 programming system supports the company’s in-house manufacturing operations, accelerating the path from concept to finished workpiece.
 

vTNC7 PROVES ITS VALUE IN PRACTICAL USE

Maik Schmitt first became aware of the vTNC7 at an industry event. The new programming system immediately caught his attention, primarily because it offered the potential to create NC programs much more efficiently and bring modern machining strategies to existing machines. Until then, programming had been carried out both directly at the machine and at a separate PC workstation. Since the introduction of vTNC7, this process has changed noticeably. “Programming is much faster today,” Schmitt reports. “The optimized machining strategies in particular ensure that programs run more efficiently and that the machines can complete their tasks more quickly.”

For him, one of the key advantages is access to the new milling cycles available through the vTNC7. One example is the Optimized Contour Milling machining strategy (OCM), which can even be used on older machines. “Even though we are not a high-volume production operation, it makes a big difference whether a component requires five minutes or twenty minutes of machining time,” says Schmitt. “You notice those time savings immediately.”

BETTER SURFACE QUALITY, LESS REWORK

In addition to shorter machining times, Schiele benefits from improved machining quality. The modern milling strategies produce surface finishes that already meet the requirements directly after machining. 

“The surface quality is excellent. In many cases, we can dispense with manual rework entirely,” explains Schmitt.

This advantage is particularly valuable in prototype manufacturing. When components require multiple design iterations, every rework step that can be eliminated reduces the overall effort involved. At the same time, new variants can be evaluated and tested more quickly.

AI SUPPORT DIRECTLY IN THE PROGRAMMING SYSTEM

Another benefit is provided by HEIDI, the AI assistant integrated into the vTNC7. Accessible through a dedicated workspace, it supports users throughout the NC programming process. Instead of searching through manuals or documentation, Schmitt can ask questions directly within the system. “Before I reach for the manual, I use the AI support integrated in the vTNC7,” he says. “HEIDI provides a solution suggestion very quickly and helps me find the right function or the appropriate programming approach.” As a result, searching for information becomes significantly easier and users can become familiar with new functions more quickly.

GREATER FLEXIBILITY FOR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS

Once completed, the programs are transferred to the respective machine at Schiele via USB sticks. For Maik Schmitt, the benefits of introducing the vTNC7 are clear: faster programming, modern machining strategies, and intelligent assistance directly at the workstation.