What [Else] Can You Do With the Okuma OSP-P500?

As more shops introduce Okuma machines with the OSP-P500 CNC control to their lineups and workflows, we dive further into its features, functionality, and quality design.

Good things take time. Great things take a little more.

From initial thoughts to official launch, nothing describes our structured, intentional creation process for the OSP-P500 CNC control better.

Our first meeting about building and introducing a new OSP control (from the ground up, just like everything else we do) started almost a decade ago. Meetings turned into concepts. Concepts turned into proven ideas. And proven ideas are what you see today in the new Okuma OSP-P500, the next generation of our OSP control.

The Okuma OSP-P500 builds on the OSP-P300, which has proven longevity, process efficiencies, and a legacy of intelligence. The hardware upgrades you experience between the two are only the beginning; we took a little more time to give you a lot of value below the surface. The Okuma OSP-P500 is everything you want in a control — and nothing that you don’t.

The Two Biggest Differences

We’ll start with the obvious one. Compared to the OSP-P300 control (our legacy CNC control), the OSP-P500 has a new look and feel. It’s sleeker and more modern, with an enhanced aesthetic that matches the advanced nature of manufacturing and what the future of our industry holds. The colors have cooler tones, a few buttons have new locations, and there’s a full-color touch-screen operator panel in two sizes — 15-inch or 21.5-inch — which is determined by the machine tool model.

Unlike previous versions of our CNC control, the appearance across machining categories with the Okuma OSP-P500 is standardized; lathes, machining centers, grinders, etc. have the same hardware but different software. With only a few versions of our control panel buttons because of this standardization, it's much easier for operators with a versatile Okuma lineup to move from a multitasking lathe to a 5-axis machining center with little-to-no learning curve.

The other big difference between the OSP-P300 and the OSP-P500 lies in the control’s power. The OSP-P500 has a split architecture with two computers: one hosting the human-machine interface (HMI) and Windows^®, and one hosting a real-time operating system and the real-time processes which control machine movement. This greater processing power means the OSP-P500 can simultaneously run multiple intelligent technologies, monitoring systems, and more to improve machining performance, accuracy, and cycle times. During continuous, repetitive operations, the decrease in machining time and increase in machining speed are especially noticeable.

If you’re an Okuma user who’s used to the OSP-P300, don’t worry! The two CNC controls also share many similarities, including how any OSP-P300 program will run on the OSP-P500. Both have a Windows^®-based open architecture platform, too, which means users and operators can access all areas of the control.

A full comparison of the two controls is found in the video below.

Single Source Provider

For us, this is how it’s always been. Not only do we build our own machine tools from square one, but we also design, engineer, and construct our OSP control instead of outsourcing the job or using a control from a third party. It takes time, but it’s worth it because, from the start, the OSP-P500 is designed to work in perfect harmony with an Okuma machine tool. If servicing or training is needed, one of our engineers or local distributors will deliver a resolution with no waiting or finger-pointing. To learn more about our single-source provider philosophy as it pertains to the OSP-P500 — and the benefits it brings to you — click here.

Don’t Miss Out on These CNC Functions and Technologies

The Okuma OSP controls are designed to make anything possible. And “possible” becomes easier when you take advantage of everything our CNC control can do for you. Below, we call out a few of the often-forgotten functions — on the OSP-P300 and the OSP-P500 — that should be part of your everyday workflows:

• Cycle Time Reduction Function – This function increases the speed of an existing, running program by eliminating non-value-added time.

• Quick Edit Function – While the operator runs a part program, this function gives them the ability to change the code, look at upcoming code, and save any changes.

• Tool Life Management – Set limits for how long a tool can run before an alarm is triggered, either by counting the number of times the tool is used or by a cutting time value.

• Cutting Status Monitor – Instead of buying expensive third-party software to check the load of your tool, let this included function monitor loads as you cut.

Something new (and something that warranted extra attention during the development of the control) is the OSP-P500’s exclusive ability to use the Collision Avoidance System (CAS) and 5-Axis Auto Tuning technologies on a 5-axis machine tool simultaneously:

• Collision Avoidance System creates a safeguard against operator or G-code error, generating the shape of materials milliseconds ahead of a cut to ensure no interference takes place. 5-Axis Auto Tuning compensates for any geometric errors through precise position measurements. Using both at the same time maximizes machine performance and utilization rates for perfect parts.

Visit our CNC Control Functions Hot List for more under-the-radar but important CNC functions, and keep your eyes peeled for new functions in the future.

Eliminate Any Learning Curve: Training Resources and Options

Just as we spend time innovating our industry-leading CNC control, we also provide as much time as you need to learn it and realize its full potential. Upon purchase of an Okuma machine tool with the OSP-P500, your local distributor will proceed with demos and comprehensive training. Supplemental on-site training is available at Okuma, too.

The Okuma Machine Tool Academy (OMTA) also provides in-depth OEM training and educational opportunities for the OSP-P500, in addition to other Okuma technologies, machine tools, and solutions. Taught by expert instructors, the Okuma OSP-P500 course covers electrical enclosures, electrical components, the human-machine interface, schematics, diagnostics, and more via classroom lectures and hands-on training. Okuma distributors and customers are encouraged to attend OMTA, which is possible through our partnership with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in Kannapolis, NC, to learn or refresh valuable skill sets.

Create Your Own Apps!

In the design and launch of any generation of our OSP control, we make sure users have the option to create their own apps. The OSP-P500 delivers this ability with ease. As the control debuts in shops across different industries, we’ve heard from decades-long and first-time customers who can’t believe how easy it is to engineer their own machine monitoring applications. Custom user input pages are often built into business-specific processes to help monitor tool data and make input more accurate, keeping operations free from error.

Security and Safety Verifications Made Simple

As the first line of defense against compromised data and unauthorized access, a CNC control’s security should never be rushed. We carefully considered how to build upon the history of robust security in the OSP-P control and manage risks. We came up with a few enhancements.

The Okuma OSP-P500 is equipped with tamper-prevention, whitelisting, and anomaly detection functions to alert operators of suspicious activity. Operators must provide unique identification and individualized authentication to prevent unwarranted access to the control and machine interface. Take advantage of Okuma’s comprehensive backup utility, or since the control is Windows^®-based, choose your own backup method. And, the control completes a file integrity check during machine bootup to make sure files are not breached or lost. Security is always on with the intelligent and intuitive OSP-P500 control.

Conclusion

Every time you press a button, run a program, or optimize each cut with the Okuma OSP-P500, you have meticulous planning, precise execution, and proven expertise at your fingertips. Quality is never a question. We take the time that’s needed to make the control you need.