MMC Magazine

ISO13399, international standards for the installation of tool data into computers

ISO13399 is an international technical standard established by the ISO (the International Organization for Standardization, whose head office is in Geneva, Switzerland.) in 2006. ISO13399 defines terms and symbols for tools to promote common understanding beyond the boundaries of countries and manufacturers.

The biggest advantage of ISO13399-compliant tool data is that it allows users to directly implement and share product databases for cutting tools without changing the format of data files. This allows users to manage CAM, CNC simulation, PLM, tool management systems and other software more efficiently.

These international rules are based on DIN4000 standards developed by tool and software manufacturers in Germany in the 1980s as domestic standards. DIN4000 came to be adopted by European countries, and finally the German Government announced its industrial measure, Industry 4.0 (The Fourth Industrial Revolution: 4IR). Since then, manufacturers around the world started working towards compliance with the standards. When Mitsubishi Materials acquired ISO13399 about 10 years ago, manufacturers in European countries had already been applying this standard for 30 years.

How have user workflows been changing?

Along with progress in hardware, software, and the cloud environment, it has become possible to examine in advance what tools will be used and how materials will be processed based on an image of the finished product and 3D-CAD data in a process called “digital preparation.”

In the past, we used paper-based catalogues to look up data on tools, holders and arbors. With digital preparation, when we bring up the tools that customers will be using, the holders and arbors are listed automatically on the screen, which significantly increases efficiency.

What’s more, with digital preparation, we can confirm the results of interference simulations, etc. before moving toward actual operation; and this shortens the process of validation, which conventionally requires several repetitions. This serves to improve quality and efficiency while reducing costs.

Adopting such innovative workflows guarantees the selection of ISO13399-compliant tools from the online database.

Platform essential for tool data

Many customers use what are known as platform providers to compare tools made by different manufacturers. Platforms are internet tool search services operated by a wide range of tool manufacturers. MachiningCloud is a major company in the United States, which provides ISO13399-compliant tool data registered by 30 companies*.
The German service, ToolsUnited, has expanded its coverage in Europe, China and India. One of the world’s largest, it provides ISO13399- and DIN4000-compliant tool data registered by 36 companies*.

In addition to the catalogues on our official website, Mitsubishi Materials provides tool data to MachiningCloud and ToolsUnited to expand the provision of tool data to users.

*Data provided as of the end of November 2022

Europe and the United States focusing on labour reduction as Japan prioritizes the spirit of artisans

Japan trailed significantly behind Europe in the utilization of ISO13999. The Japanese manufacturing industry originally focused on education to cultivate employees with advanced skills. This made high-quality manufacturing possible without adopting innovative workflows. On the other hand, turnover was so high overseas that they prioritized a system that enabled materials to be processed at a certain level of quality regardless of individual employee skills. Such efficient workflows have been broadly accepted by countries in Europe and elsewhere.

Japan will also accelerate the westernization of its workflow due to the decrease in the number of people entering the labour force and a rethinking of attitudes about work-life balance. The digitalisation of tool data promotes positive cost performance in the long term, and this means that the use of ISO13399-compliant data can be expected to also gain popularity in Japan.

Supporting the creation of a 40,000-item database utilizing unified standards to keep pace with the international trend

Around 10 years ago Mitsubishi Materials started to create its ISO13399-compliant tool database. It took nearly five years to accomplish this enormous task for its approx. 40,000 conventional products.

Also, because the quality of our data was inferior to what was being provided by European manufacturers, who had 30 years’ worth of accumulated know-how on data creation, we spent another three years fixing bugs before we were satisfied that what we had was equal to European standards.

For the last four years, we have dispatched staff to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to participate in the development of ISO13399, and our contribution has effectively supported significant improvements in machining, quality, efficiency and a cost reduction for users.

International standards for machining conditions, etc. are essential for automation and saving manpower.

Along with the rapid progress of AI, advanced technology beyond automatic tool selection, simulation and CAM software will be essential. Even with highly advanced technology, however, accurate operations will be impossible without a high-quality database serving as a foundation. In Japan too, ISO13399-compliant tool data will be essential in satisfying the requirements for automation and manpower saving.

ISO13399 essentially defines tool form. Users all around the world are now requiring tool data such as form, operation and recommended machining conditions. Tool use has not yet been standardised internationally, although there is clear movement in this direction. To effectively identify its role in leading this movement, Mitsubishi Materials must leverage the experience it gained during the 10 years it used to successfully close the 30-year gap between Japan and Europe.