Voice-enabled virtual assistants are coming to machine tools. Now available on Makino wire EDMs, the ATHENA interface promises to help manufacturers better utilize their equipment, aid less skilled workers and operate more machines with fewer people.
An ever-increasing number of technology devices now feature built-in voice recognition capabilities and voice-enabled software. Whether Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant, our cars, laundry machines, or TVs – we are getting more and more used to the convenience of interacting via voice with our gadgets and devices. In the simplest of cases, all we do is give instructions, for example “Turn on the living room light” or “Switch to the Weather Channel”. In more robust and complex implementations, the one-way communication becomes two-way and interactive. From merely reacting to instructions, the device becomes an active partner, one that can notify and act proactively.
Even though these devices are becoming more and more part of our everyday lives, they are mostly used in consumer environments.
Makino® has recognized this gap and has developed a voice-recognition enabled machine tool interface. ATHENATM is the world’s first voice-enabled virtual assistant for machine tools. Similar to everyday devices, ATHENA’s voice recognition software increases the usability of machine tools by bridging the gap between users and today’s ever-changing, advanced technologies. ATHENA’s “help me start a job” feature, for instance, walks an operator through every step that is required to start a specific job. The operator does not need be to intimately familiar with the machine control as ATHENA will provide guidance through every step.
Applications engineer Mark Elsenbroek demonstrates ATHENA machine interface on a Makino U6 EDM.
While built into the machine interface and control, using ATHENA is not a requirement for running the machine. It is an interactive support tool that the operator can choose to use or not.
ATHENA was developed in close cooperation with customers and beta users. It was developed and tested from the shop floor and included real-world machine operators in the development process to optimize ways to incorporate voice assisted machine control.
Liberty Molds, Inc. in Portage, MI, is one of the early adopters and users of ATHENA. “We took delivery of our first Makino wire EDM about 10 months ago and installed ATHENA a couple months later,” explained Dave Williamson, Liberty Molds. “We knew ATHENA was part of the package, but we didn’t understand we were getting an operator assistant, a second pair of hands. Makino’s voice command interface takes multitasking to the next level. ATHENA allows us to not only think of the next part of a setup but to put it in motion. Things like wire control, head movement and screen selection can all be done for you,” Williamson said. “Once the part is ready for machining, ATHENA can help with program selection, program editing, consumable availability and provide notifications during the machining process. I think the ATHENA Team at Makino has tapped into a whole new resource with great potential,” Williamson added.
Different operators have different needs. What is helpful for a novice EDM operator may differ from what a more seasoned operator is looking for. ATHENA was developed with this in mind and thus adds value across multiple levels.
The ATHENA interface is designed to serve novice and experienced operators in different ways.
The intuitive voice control helps novice operators get accustomed to the new world of Wire EDM. ATHENA helps with all aspects of operating the machine—from starting and running a job, reporting on machine and service status, and even assessing the level of consumables to determine if a job can be finished without any interruptions. ATHENA allows a novice operator to complete every step needed to accomplish a task, simply by using plain-English, conversational voice commands.
Some seasoned operators may choose to completely forgo using ATHENA and simply utilize Makino’s smartphone-like, interactive Hyper-i control to run their machine. Some other seasoned operators, while being completely comfortable with running a Wire EDM machine, may be transitioning over from a different manufacturer, and use ATHENA simply to navigate to certain parts of the control or to jump from one screen to another. ATHENA also allows for monitoring and fine tuning the machining process while a program is running. Cutting adjustments can be made via voice control. Operators are also able to set up checklists for all crucial tasks to ensure safe operation—much like what pilots do to prepare for take-off. This functionality comes in particularly handy for programming complex job sequences or for setting up checks and balances when training new employees.
For owners and shop managers, ATHENA can maximize ROI and increase shop productivity thanks to fewer idle machines on the shop floor.
In today’s tight labor market, finding skilled operators is becoming challenging. This labor shortage is not expected to ease. If anything, the situation may get worse with more skilled operators retiring at a higher rate from the labor force. ATHENA lowers the learning curve for new equipment and new operators, making it possible to hire novice employees that may have previously not been considered. Since ATHENA is multi-lingual, language gaps can be bridged as well. By having an expanded pool of operators that can quickly become acclimated to new equipment, ATHENA boosts overall profitability and eliminates the headaches caused by a shortage of skilled operators.
The ATHENA interface is available on Makino’s U6 H.E.A.T. Extreme wire EDM, a machine that can double roughing cutting speed compared to other conventional equipment.
ATHENA is pre-installed on Makino’s high-volume Wire EDMs. A Bluetooth-enabled headset is all that’s required to interact with ATHENA. Unlike popular, consumer-oriented voice-recognition-enabled devices, ATHENA does not require an internet connection since it doesn’t run in the cloud. It is self-contained and does not rely on access to the outside world. This independent function makes ATHENA the assistant you always wanted but were never able to find.
ATHENA is not a static product – on the contrary, new functions and commands are continuously being developed and added based on customer and operator feedback.
ATHENA automation technology gets activated upon installation of the machine at the customer’s location. First year usage is included and allows the user to try out all of ATHENA’s features and become familiar with this valuable assistant that gets smarter, faster, and better over time. After the initial year, ATHENA is available as a cost-effective subscription service.
ATHENA is currently available on Makino U series wire EDMs. Please visit Makino’s Wire EDM page for more information.