A definition of tooling is the set of tools or utensils that can be used independently or in conjunction with machinery, including templates and molds. They are responsible for optimizing the execution of operations within the manufacturing process through the positioning and fastening of parts to a reference system to perform actions of different characteristics.
The concept of tooling in accounting terms presents a series of objectives, such as the reduction of manufacturing times, greater precision in the elaboration of the articles, reduction of the operating costs, interchangeability and a high degree of uniformity.
Types of tools
Tooling can be classified according to the following parameters:
- Machine: type and level of the brewing automation system.
- Application: depending on whether storage, assembly or inspection actions are carried out.
- Primary use: Whether you are holding or guiding the tool.
- Dedication: depends on whether the number of tooling operations or the number of pieces is valued.
- Productivity: it can be standard tooling, oriented to specific actions, or flexible.
It should be specified that the standard tooling is more generic and facilitates a low volume of production work. The one dedicated to specific operations facilitates specific components in high production loads, while the flexible ones combine the advantage of the flexibility of standard tooling with the business productivity of dedicated tooling.
Examples of materials in the tooling
For the manufacture of tools there are a series of materials that are very frequent, where the specific heat capacity, density, limit temperature, coste and thermal conductivity. Among them the most common are some materials such as steel, invar, nickel, aluminum, silicone, and composite materials.
On many occasions the concept of tooling is confused with machinery.