Who We Are

Mission Statement: MDSI is dedicated to being a global provider of innovative, high-quality factory automation solutions to help our customers increase productivity and profitability within their organizations.

Manufacturing Data Systems (MDSI) of Dexter, Michigan develops and delivers factory automation solutions to manufacturers throughout worldwide. MDSI revolutionized the CNC industry in 1993 with OpenCNC—the world’s first unbundled software CNC not requiring any proprietary hardware or motion control cards. Since OpenCNC’s introduction to machine builders and retrofitters, thousands of machine tools have logged over 10 million production hours on machine applications ranging from 2 axis lathes, grinders, gear hobs, to complex 5 axis high speed machines.

OpenCNC has become the reference standard in open-architecture controls for the following reasons:

• OpenCNC runs on a single Intel processor. No motion control cards or other DSP processors are required.
• OpenCNC runs on standard Windows 2000/XP that has been enhanced with real time extensions to provide extraordinary real–time performance. No other operating system is required.
• OpenCNC allows end users to run 3^rd party software applications on the same PC that controls the machine—without degrading the performance of the machine.
• OpenCNC provides end-users with unlimited access to machine and process information with MDSI’s patented Significant Event technology that pushes data from the control to the users manufacturing network.
• OpenCNC set a new standard for high-speed machining speed and surface finish—especially for machining complex impellers on 5 axes machines.
• OpenCNC embraced open industrial automation standards such as PROFIBUS, DeviceNet, Ethernet, IEC-61131, and SERCOS.
• OpenCNC provides unprecedented flexibility for control engineers; the same version of software can control a simple lathe or a complex, gantry 5 axis machine—complete with pallet changers and part loaders—all from a single PC.
• MDSI adds new features and delivers new technologies with simple software upgrades.

New Products

In 2003, we expanded our product and service offerings to meet customer demand to provide complete industrial automation solutions developed around MDSI’s core technologies.

WinMotion was released as a motion control solution to the general motion market. This product provides the same benefits as OpenCNC to the general motion market (packaging, pick and place machines, material processing, test and measurement, etc. machines). WinMotion provides machine builders with a unique architecture that allows control engineers to easily integrate 3^rd party peripheral components such as scanners, vision systems, bar code readers, etc.

Hardware and software solutions for OpenCNC and WinMotion. To make control integration and installation a smooth process for customers, MDSI released a bundled hardware and software control solution using proven, industrially-hardened components.