News & Events

FiMAB combines an online configurator and production with the PN4000 • Trumpf TruLaser 4030 & TruPunch 1000

FiMAB manufactures sheet metal components for a wide range of industries, particularly mechanical engineering.

How can one economically manufacture bespoke sheet metal components and control cabinet enclosures, even in batch sizes as small as one? FiMAB GmbH provides the answer: an intelligent online configurator, end-to-end digitalisation and variant programming using WiCAM create a fully automated process that extends directly from the customer’s order to CNC programming.

Alongside standard parts produced to drawings, the production of customised control cabinet enclosures forms part of its core business. The company consistently relies on automation and digital processes to ensure maximum flexibility whilst maintaining short lead times.

A partnership with WiCAM spanning decades

The collaboration between FiMAB and WiCAM has been in place since the 1990s. Even the company’s very first laser cutting machine was programmed using WiCAM software. When the company later switched from a Bystronic to a Trumpf machine, the programming remained unchanged thanks to the manufacturer-independence of PN4000.

This was a decisive advantage for FiMAB. Staff work with a single software package, regardless of the machine manufacturer, and benefit from a standardised workflow.To this day, FiMAB continues to use the PN4000 programming system to programme its Trumpf machines.

Machines controlled:

• Trumpf TruLaser 4030
• Trumpf TruPunch 1000

via the PN4000 programming system, connected to:

• SAGE ERP
• ARMARiO control cabinet configurator

Directly from the online configurator to the machine

At the heart of digitalisation at FiMAB is the in-house developed online configurator for bespoke control cabinet enclosures. This is not merely a product configurator, but a fully-fledged design tool.

The customer defines the height, width and depth to the nearest millimetre and positions cut-outs and other machining operations directly in the browser. The challenge was to transfer this data to the production department without any manual effort.

The solution was provided by WiCAM’s variant programming. Using the PN4000 variant generator, the data from the configurator is automatically transferred to existing master models. Depending on the selected control cabinet type, geometries are scaled, hole patterns are added and all machining operations are generated automatically.

As soon as the customer completes their order, the CNC programme for production is generated automatically. The entire process runs without manual programming and forms a direct interface between sales and production.

The advantages of PN4000:

• Direct transfer of configuration data to production
• Fully automated CNC programme generation
• Minimisation of manual intervention
• High process reliability
• Cost-effective production from as little as a batch size of 1

“What makes our collaboration with WiCAM particularly special is the partnership-based exchange between equals. Even when it comes to special requests or minor adjustments, we have a partner by our side who thinks in terms of solutions and works with us to find the right way to implement them.”

Markus Fiedler, Managing Director of FiMAB GmbH & Co. KG

The next steps: automatic bending programming and 3D models

At FiMAB, digitalisation does not stop at the laser cutting machine or the punching press. Together with WiCAM, the company is already working on the next stages of development.

The plan is to introduce automatic bending programming, so that in future bending programmes can be generated immediately after an order is placed, without the need for manual programming.

Furthermore, the aim is to automatically generate complete 3D models from the 2D unfolded drawings produced. These can then be made available to customers for their further machine and plant planning.

Discover now: Automation with PN4000

Would you like to find out how online configurators, variant programming and CNC programming can be seamlessly integrated? With PN4000, WiCAM offers a powerful solution for the end-to-end automation of sheet metal manufacturing processes.

From design through to programming and on to the machine, end-to-end digital workflows are created that reduce set-up times, prevent errors and make even customised ‘batch size 1’ production economically viable.

ARRANGE AN ONLINE DEMO