MACHINE TENDING
What is Machine Tending ?
One of the most prevalent applications of collaborative robots on the market is machine tending. As long as the robot obtains raw parts, a robotic machine-tending operation may be repeated indefinitely. Robots are used in some sectors for a single phase of manufacturing, such as emptying injection machines or CNC machines. Robots allow you to decrease cycle time and operate the process continuously while manufacturing is running around the clock by removing pieces from the machine’s work area.
Advantages of Robotic Machine Tending
When opposed to manual loading and unloading, one of the primary advantages of robotic machine tending is significantly increased uptime. The only time the robot must stop is for routine maintenance, implying that the productivity of the unit being serviced is not restricted by manual labour. This increase in uptime leads to significant productivity improvements through increasing throughput. Aside from greater uptime, robotic machine tending systems are more precise and reproducible than human loading and unloading systems. This not only improves the quality of the components produced, but it also reduces the amount of mistake in the machining process, optimising throughput and decreasing waste materials and time. Manufacturer’s profit much from robotic machine tending systems, the most important of which are uptime and exact repeatability. Robotic machine tending increases productivity in a variety of applications, including grinding, welding, milling, and turning.
Applications for Robotic Machine Tending
Robotic machine tending is commonly used in the following applications for loading and unloading parts:
• Grinding
• Milling and turning
• Injection molds
• Stamping, punching, trimming and forging
• Compression molds
• Welding
The particular procedures that a robotic system performs in each of these applications vary, but the loading and unloading of materials and parts is a common function.
How Vancouver Automation can help you ?
Material Handling is an essential part of every automation system. Whether moving heavy awkward parts or small intricate precision components, efficient manipulation and control is essential. From the newest motor assembly to the most intricate surgical device, material handling and its flow ensures that components can be turned into assemblies that guarantees an assembly solution will not choke off critical up time or contribute to costly damage to parts or operators. Vancouver Automation through its experience along with its partners to provide technologically leading solutions that ensure the backbone of the custom equipment link together in support and harmony. There are many solutions that are tried and true and new flexible solutions that deal with the complexities in the market today. Material handling solutions range from linear solutions in layout and form too numerous to detail but include our partners: Robert Bosch power and free conveyor, belt driven solutions coupled with flexible feeders, bowls, hoppers with vision, and escapement devices that verify orientation and control throughout the assembly process.