Do CNC Machine Programs need to be Controlled Documents?

[JRKH]

Looking for some input.

Would CNC machine programs need to be controlled documents?

Obviously the engineering drawing needs control, and the measuring instruments need control, and the process hardware needs to be capable. However since the setup is checked against the engineering drawing before running, it wouldn't seem that the CNC programs would need to be controlled.

Any Views?

 

[DICKIE]

Our CNC programs have headers which identify them just like our controlled documents. Part number, revision, author, date etc. They are also backed up on a server computer. Our autitor has audited this in the past.

Greg Dickie

 

[JRKH]

>>>Our CNC programs have headers which >>>identify them just like our controlled >>>documents. Part number, revision, author, >>>date etc. They are also backed up on a >>>server computer. Our autitor has audited >>>this in the past.

Is the rev level you use the Part Rev or the program rev?

James


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Low tech is better than no tech.

 

[Russ]

>>Would CNC machine programs need to be controlled documents? <<
We treat our CNC programs as controlled documents. They are backed up on a server just for all the CNC machines we have. Our programs also have part number, print revision, date, etc. to identify them as controlled. If a line is added or subtracted from the program the operator fills out a change sheet, the Super signs it and turns it in to the CNC Programmer to document the change. Changes to existing lines are not documented. After a job is done it is uploaded to a que on the server to replace the old one.
Russ

 

[DICKIE]

The revision in the CNC program is for the part level.

Greg

 

[tomvehoski]

Does the operator have access only to the latest revision of the program? Are they being pulled from the same server if there are multiple machines running the same program?

I have used the procedure that the responsible engineer updates the machine program and deletes the old revision. The operator only has access to the correct revision. The file server is considered the master list, showing all current revisions. Auditors have never had an issue with this.

I also had one client (EDM company) that only allowed one program to be in the machine at a time. The engineer was responsible for loading the program. This way the operator could never pick the wrong program, since there was only one (assuming the engineer downloaded the correct file).

 

[windsal]

Re: Do CNC machining programs need to be controlled documents?

Looking for some input.

Would CNC machine programs need to be controlled documents?

Obviously the engineering drawing needs control, and the measuring instruments need control, and the process hardware needs to be capable. However since the setup is checked against the engineering drawing before running, it wouldn't seem that the CNC programs would need to be controlled.

Any Views?

According to AS9100B,7.5.1.3,<Production equipment, tools and programs shall be validated prior to use and maintained and inspected periodically according to documented procedures.> CNC program shall be a documented procedure. Regarding to "documented procedure", 4.2.1<NOTE 1 Where the term “documented procedure” appears within this International Standard, this means that the procedure is established, documented, implemented and maintained.>

Conclusion as above, CNC machine programs shall be controlled documents.

 

[Jeff Frost]

Re: Do CNC machining programs need to be controlled documents?

AS9100B Clause 7.5.1.3 requires that you have a written (documented) procedure that describes how you control numerical control programs and validate them prior to use in production. Related to the program control you will need to describe the method for the creation of a new NC program, how you validate the program, method of revision control and method use prevent the use of older versions of the program.

ISO 9001:2000 does not have this type of requirement directly stated but you must have sufficient control on NC programs to prevent the production of product that does not meet your customer’s requirements.

 

[Caster]

Would CNC machine programs need to be controlled documents?

Ever had a problem caused by the wrong version of a program? If so you may want to "control" them.

If you are feeling all proactive, you may want to do a risk assessment and look at the potential costs and do a preventive action if it seems likely to be high cost.

We've had things "go bang real good" due to a mistake in a new program. Weeks of downtime and hundreds of thousands of dollars repair costs.

Amazingly some people still don't want to bother "controlling" the programs.

 

[Jeff Frost]

One other thing to consider is potential risk to the customer related to poor revision control. If wrong revision gets on the aircraft or into manned space flight service things can go bad really fast and cost a lot of money.