Industrial Machine Tending

Application

Maximize utilization of an industrial machine with a collaborative robot.

Challenge

With manual operation of a CNC lathe or other specialty machinery, max utilization is difficult to achieve without some level of automation. Inefficiencies typically occur due to: a) having an operator standing idle while the machine is cycling, or b) having the machine sitting idle until an operator is available to load or unload the part. Integrator KC Robotics designed a robotic cell that addresses these issues.

Solution

1. Operator stocks groupings of unfinished parts at a designated area and places in picking arrangement.

2. Robot picks parts at set locations until cycle is complete and parts are restocked.

3. Robot loads part into machine.

4. Robot initiates machine cycle.

5. Robot unloads finished part from machine and places in designated area.

6. Operator retrieves finished parts as needed.

Benefits

Machine and staff are running at maximum utilization. The machine is able to run several continual cycles unattended. The power-force limiting features of the HC10DT robot enables workers to move parts to and from the station without interrupting the cycle.