Automation is here to do the jobs that people don't want to do. Panther Global Technologies understands this principle. The Michigan based camshaft assembly producer has introduced a robot into their manufacturing process. With machine tending applications involving many difficult conditions, they thought it was a better idea than initiating the new hire with this job. Here's how they introduced a Universal Robots into their machine tending application.
The Case
Watch the following video to understand what this particular machine tending application is all about.
So the application itself is quiet messy, right? In fact, hot metal rods mixed with cooling fluids and repetitive operations can be good reasons for making the choice to switch to automation.
The Cell
The robotic cell itself is based around a Universal Robots (UR10) with 4 pneumatic parallel grippers. Two bars are grasped by 2 grippers and are transported to the machine where the two empty grippers grab the finished parts. Once this operation is done, the robot installs the next set of parts in the machine and the machine cycle can start. The robot puts the finished parts in the box and here we go again, one complete cycle.
There is an ordering device to feed the robot. But the most impressive device on the cell is the robot's protective shell/coat. It is not a sensing device as we saw with BOSCH APAS, it is more a protective device for the robot. Since the application deals with heat and fluids, the integrator wanted to protect the robot. Depending on the application you want to look at the IP rating of the robot and gripper to make sure everything will meet the required standard for dust or fluid penetration.
ROI
Panther Global Technologies had no robotic expertise when they start integrating this robotic cell. Nobody there had ever programmed or installed a robot. In 4 weeks they went from design drawings to a fully functioning robot. From robot programming, robot installation, safety devices, grippers and machine interface, they went through all of this with a relative ease. They used the expertise of Axis Sytems for the different steps of the purchasing and integration.
By integrating this robotic cell, the company has increased their cycle time by 50%. Passing from regular working shifts to 24hr (lights out) shifts and their production increased from 16,000 parts/day to 34,500 parts/day. This means that their payback happened pretty fast, in less then 6 months they paid back the whole investment.
With the economies they have made by introducing this robotic cell, they plan to install a new robotic cell in April 2015. So, stay tuned to see what this next cell will look like.
What Have we Learned?
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Dirty jobs can be automated.
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Robots can work in dirty environments if they are well equipped.
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You can carry a lot of parts with a collaborative robot (4 metal rods with 4 grippers)
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The payback on UR is fast.
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You can save money by integrating a robot.
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Your new hire will be happy they don't have to go through an initiation period.
Well that last point is supposition, but probably true. So, machine tending can help you save money and remove your employees from dirty and potentially dangerous tasks. To have further information on robotic machine tending, follow the link below.
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