Each iCON application can be used as a self contained controller to automate specific equipment functions, with provision for the operator on the shop-floor to create and store jobs in memory and select which one is going to be used for the production run on the iCON.
However, with the introduction of iCON Manager software, office based staff, such as production managers, can communicate from their PC over their own LAN based company network with any or all of the iCONs on the shop floor. iCON Manager comes with easy to use data entry screen, macros for simpler data entry, automated backups of controller data, data transfer, and many more features. It also provides an OpenAPI which allows in-house programmes to create an interface directly between existing software and iCON controllers.
iCON Manager can be used to create and store jobs on the shop floor iCON and to set the day's job schedule, remove all need for printing out job orders for use on the factory floor. It also provides an excellent management tool, as through iCON Manager, productivity reports and a number of other essential reports can be accessed.
The key benefits of iCON Manager are:
iCON Manager connects your iCON controller(s) to one or more PC's for seamless remote data access. No special hardware is required for this as iCON controllers communicate over Ethernet, the same medium as all modern computers and so your iCON controller can plug directly into your existing company intranet for immediate use. This method of communication also allows for laptops to easily communicate with the controllers wirelessly. Simply connect a WiFi bridge to your network and any wireless capable laptop can communicate with the iCON controllers just as easily as a wired PC.
iCON Manager gives you more options on where and how to store job and/or controller information. You can import and export jobs from text files for storage in a job folder on your servers or import .CSV files generated by your CAD packages. The inbuilt job archiver will also keep track of every job sent to your iCON controllers noting where it was sent and when, so you will never lose a job again.
iCON Manager comes with several built-in optimisers which help to minimise the waste of time and resources in the factory. Optimisers available include:
Cut list optimiser - Useful if you have several odd lengths to cut and you want to achieve minimum wastage from your workpieces. Simply enter the data into the cut list optimiser and it will optimise your cut list and send it out to your iCON controller for execution.
Job execution optimiser - Used in machines with tooling, this optimiser helps arrange jobs in a particular order for the minimal tooling changes throughout the day. This allows those on the shop floor to spend more time running jobs and less time setting up for them.
Contact us if you have an idea for a futher optimiser