Retrofitting Legacy CNC Machines with a Focus on Energy Consumption

The connectivity within the manufacturing sector is crucial for providing detailed information about the operational status of equipment and devices. It also helps in collecting data for predictive maintenance, improving energy efficiency, and reducing unplanned downtime. This ultimately increases the reliability and lifespan of machinery. This work discusses the retrofitting of a legacy machine within the context of Industry 4.0, proposing a cost-effective transition focused on energy consumption and connectivity. The implementation of gateway devices, sensors, and energy concentrators enables legacy CNC machines to access the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, and Cloud Computing. A practical CNC machine demonstration shows that this transition is possible, bringing significant benefits, especially to small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). The contribution of this work is a clear methodology for connecting a didactic CNC machine to an open IoT platform, enabling the collection and storage of energy data.