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MachineCDN vs MachineMetrics: Beyond CNC Monitoring to Full Predictive Maintenance

· 8 min read
MachineCDN Team
MachineCDN Team
Industrial IoT Experts

MachineMetrics has built a strong reputation in the CNC machine monitoring space, delivering real-time OEE tracking and production visibility for discrete manufacturers. MachineCDN takes a broader approach, providing AI-powered predictive maintenance across all types of manufacturing equipment — from CNC machines and injection molders to compressors, pumps, conveyors, and HVAC systems. This comparison helps manufacturers understand when CNC-specific monitoring is enough and when you need a full-factory predictive maintenance platform.

Platform Philosophies: Monitoring vs. Prediction​

The fundamental difference between these platforms reflects two different approaches to manufacturing intelligence:

MachineMetrics focuses on production visibility — answering questions like "What's the OEE of Machine 12?" and "Which jobs are running behind?" It collects data from CNC machines via MTConnect and OPC UA, then presents real-time dashboards for shop floor managers.

MachineCDN focuses on predictive maintenance — answering questions like "When will this motor fail?" and "Which assets should be prioritized for maintenance this week?" It collects data from all types of equipment using industrial protocols and cellular-connected sensors, then applies AI to predict failures and optimize maintenance scheduling.

Both are valuable — but they solve different problems. OEE tracking tells you how efficiently your machines are running. Predictive maintenance tells you when they're going to stop running and gives you time to prevent it.

Equipment Coverage​

MachineMetrics: CNC-Centric​

MachineMetrics was built for CNC machines and excels in that niche:

  • ✅ CNC milling machines
  • ✅ CNC lathes and turning centers
  • ✅ CNC routers
  • ✅ EDM machines
  • ⚠️ Limited support for non-CNC equipment
  • ❌ Pumps, compressors, fans, and blowers
  • ❌ Conveyors and material handling
  • ❌ HVAC and building systems
  • ❌ Injection molding machines
  • ❌ Packaging lines

MachineCDN: Full Factory Coverage​

MachineCDN monitors any industrial equipment with sensors or PLC connections:

  • ✅ CNC machines (via OPC UA, MTConnect, Siemens S7, EtherNet/IP)
  • ✅ Pumps and compressors
  • ✅ Fans, blowers, and HVAC
  • ✅ Motors and drives
  • ✅ Conveyors and material handling
  • ✅ Injection molding machines
  • ✅ Packaging and filling lines
  • ✅ Generators and power systems
  • ✅ Any rotating equipment (via vibration sensors)
  • ✅ Any equipment with PLC connectivity

For manufacturers with CNC-only operations (job shops, precision machining), MachineMetrics' focused approach can be an advantage — every feature is optimized for CNC workflows. But for mixed-asset manufacturers — which is the majority — MachineCDN's breadth means one platform covers the entire factory.

AI and Predictive Capabilities​

MachineMetrics Analytics​

MachineMetrics provides production-focused analytics:

  • Real-time OEE — Availability, performance, and quality metrics by machine, job, or shift
  • Utilization tracking — Machine states (running, idle, offline) with operator-reported reason codes
  • Production forecasting — Estimated completion times based on current run rates
  • Cycle time analysis — Expected vs. actual cycle times
  • Downtime categorization — Pareto analysis of downtime reasons (operator-reported)

What MachineMetrics does not provide:

  • ❌ AI-based failure prediction
  • ❌ Vibration spectrum analysis
  • ❌ Bearing fault detection
  • ❌ Anomaly detection based on machine learning
  • ❌ Automated maintenance scheduling

MachineCDN AI Engine​

MachineCDN provides predictive maintenance intelligence:

  • AI-powered failure prediction — Azure OpenAI analyzes equipment behavior patterns and predicts failures days or weeks before they occur
  • Vibration analysis — Advanced FFT with AI interpretation identifies bearing wear, misalignment, imbalance, looseness, and gear mesh faults
  • Anomaly detection — Machine learning models establish baselines for each asset and detect deviations that precede failure
  • Maintenance scheduling — AI recommends optimal maintenance windows balancing predicted failure urgency with production schedules
  • Natural language querying — Ask questions about your equipment in plain English and get AI-powered answers
  • Energy analytics — AI identifies energy waste patterns across equipment

The distinction is clear: MachineMetrics tells you your CNC machine was down for 3 hours yesterday. MachineCDN tells you your CNC spindle bearing is degrading and will likely fail within 21 days, then recommends scheduling a bearing replacement during next Tuesday's planned downtime.

Connectivity and Deployment​

MachineMetrics Deployment​

  • Protocols: MTConnect (primary), OPC UA (secondary)
  • Hardware: MachineMetrics Edge device connected via Ethernet to CNC machines
  • Network: Requires plant Ethernet/Wi-Fi connectivity
  • IT involvement: Required — network configuration, firewall rules, device provisioning
  • Setup time: 1–3 weeks per facility (including IT coordination)
  • Professional services: Typically recommended for initial deployment

MachineCDN Deployment​

  • Protocols: OPC UA, MQTT, Modbus, Siemens S7, EtherNet/IP, MTConnect, Profinet, BACnet
  • Hardware: MachineCDN devices with built-in sensors and cellular modems
  • Network: Cellular — completely bypasses plant network
  • IT involvement: None — zero plant network changes
  • Setup time: 3 minutes per device
  • Professional services: Not required — any maintenance technician can deploy

The deployment difference is particularly significant for manufacturers with constrained IT resources. MachineMetrics requires IT to configure network access for each CNC machine. MachineCDN's cellular connectivity means a maintenance technician can walk through the factory, install devices on every critical asset, and have them streaming data — all before IT even processes a ticket.

Vibration Monitoring: The PdM Differentiator​

Vibration monitoring is the foundation of predictive maintenance for rotating equipment (which includes CNC spindles, pumps, motors, fans, compressors, and gearboxes). This is where the platforms diverge most sharply.

MachineMetrics​

  • ❌ No built-in vibration monitoring
  • ❌ No FFT analysis
  • ❌ No bearing fault detection
  • ❌ Cannot detect misalignment, imbalance, or looseness
  • ⚠️ Relies on machine controller alarms, which trigger only after damage has occurred

MachineCDN​

  • ✅ Triaxial vibration sensors (X, Y, Z axis)
  • ✅ FFT spectrum analysis — identifies specific frequency components associated with different failure modes
  • ✅ Envelope analysis — detects early-stage bearing faults before they're audible
  • ✅ AI-powered vibration interpretation — automatically identifies bearing wear, misalignment, imbalance, looseness, and gear mesh faults
  • ✅ Trend analysis — tracks vibration severity over time to predict remaining useful life
  • ✅ ISO 10816 vibration severity assessment

For CNC machines specifically, spindle health is the most critical (and expensive) maintenance concern. A CNC spindle rebuild can cost $5,000–$25,000 and requires 1–3 weeks of downtime. MachineCDN's vibration monitoring can detect early-stage spindle bearing degradation weeks before failure, giving you time to schedule the rebuild during planned downtime and source parts. MachineMetrics, without vibration monitoring, only knows about a spindle problem when the machine alarms — at which point damage is done and unplanned downtime is unavoidable.

Pricing Comparison​

MachineMetrics Pricing​

  • Custom pricing based on number of CNC machines
  • Edge hardware costs (per machine)
  • Annual subscription per connected machine
  • Professional services for deployment
  • Estimated: $200–$500 per CNC machine per month

MachineCDN Pricing​

  • Per-device subscription including hardware and cellular connectivity
  • No professional services fees
  • AI analytics and predictive maintenance included
  • No additional infrastructure costs
  • 5-week ROI

When comparing on a per-machine basis for CNC monitoring alone, pricing may be comparable. But when you consider that MachineCDN covers your entire factory — not just CNC machines — and includes predictive maintenance AI that MachineMetrics doesn't offer, the value equation shifts significantly.

The CNC Shop Dilemma​

If you operate a CNC-only machine shop (job shop, precision machining, contract manufacturing), MachineMetrics' focused approach has advantages:

  • Every feature is CNC-optimized
  • OEE tracking is tailored to CNC workflows (jobs, programs, tools)
  • The operator interface is designed for machine operators, not maintenance technicians
  • Production scheduling integration is CNC-aware

But ask yourself: even in a CNC-only shop, what's your bigger problem?

  • If it's utilization visibility — knowing which machines are running and which are idle, and why — MachineMetrics is designed for exactly this.
  • If it's unplanned downtime — spindle failures, bearing wear, and unexpected breakdowns that cost you hours or days — MachineCDN's predictive maintenance AI directly addresses the root cause.

Most CNC shops struggle with both, but the cost of unplanned downtime typically dwarfs the cost of suboptimal utilization. One unplanned spindle failure ($15,000 rebuild + 2 weeks downtime + missed deliveries + expediting costs) can cost more than a full year of OEE improvement.

Integration Ecosystem​

MachineMetrics​

  • ERP integration (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite)
  • MES integration (various)
  • API access for custom integrations
  • BI tools (Power BI, Tableau)
  • Limited CMMS integration

MachineCDN​

  • ERP integration (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Dynamics)
  • CMMS integration (SAP PM, Fiix, UpKeep, Limble)
  • Azure ecosystem integration
  • API access
  • Compatible with Siemens, Rockwell, ABB, Mazak, and 20+ equipment manufacturers

MachineCDN's CMMS integration is particularly valuable for predictive maintenance workflows — AI-predicted maintenance needs can automatically generate work orders in your existing CMMS system.

The Verdict: When to Choose Each​

Choose MachineMetrics When:​

  • You're a CNC-only shop and your primary need is utilization visibility and OEE tracking
  • Production scheduling and job tracking are higher priorities than predictive maintenance
  • You don't have significant unplanned downtime from mechanical failures
  • Your maintenance approach is already effective and your challenge is production efficiency

Choose MachineCDN When:​

  • You need predictive maintenance to reduce unplanned downtime (even on CNC machines)
  • You have mixed assets beyond CNC — pumps, compressors, conveyors, HVAC, motors
  • IT is a bottleneck and you need IoT without plant network changes
  • You want AI-powered insights, not just production dashboards
  • Vibration monitoring is important for your rotating equipment
  • You need to prove ROI quickly (5-week target)

For most manufacturers, the right question isn't "MachineCDN or MachineMetrics?" — it's "Do I need monitoring or prediction?" If you need to know what happened on the shop floor yesterday, MachineMetrics provides excellent CNC visibility. If you need to know what will happen on the shop floor next week and prevent it, MachineCDN's AI-powered predictive maintenance is the answer.

Experience AI-Powered Factory Intelligence​

See how MachineCDN goes beyond monitoring to deliver genuine predictive maintenance — for CNC machines and every other critical asset in your facility.

Book a demo →