CNC AUTOMATION DESIGN AND BUILD
Robotic Solutions, Inc. can design and build a solution to most manufacturing and production challenges. Our talented engineering department can work with you to create a system that will meet your design requirements, and your budget.
Total Integrated System
Robotic Solutions can provide a customized machine tool, along with a customized material handling system, control, and software. These parts will be delivered and integrated to create an entire system designed specifically for your application.
From the largest five axis profilers to the smallest sheet routers, material handling is an important obstacle to efficient operation. A machine that runs a part in 2 minutes with manual part loading and unloading is sometimes unable to exceed 5 parts per hour. Material handling is necessary to keep the machine from regularly sitting idle for extended periods of time. Beyond efficiency, some material handling systems can be designed for unattended operation.
Imagine running parts 24/7 with workers only present for a few hours on one shift
Automated material handling systems can take a great machine, and multiply the capacity. Simply purchasing a machine and a robot separately usually spells disaster, as the two proprietary controls and the physical design limitations will make automated loading and unloading difficult and slow.
Software and Control are often the most important and overlooked parts of a complete system. Our systems feature open architecture software with PC-based control, OpenCNC®, even Oracle Database Integration. We can automate many functions, including material selection, part programming, nearly any task that needs the automation and reliability a computer can provide.
CNC is undoubtedly the best way to machine a part, but without a total solution, the machine becomes an island of automation. Operators and programmers create roadblocks and slow down production. A complete solution from Robotic Solutions will address multiple problems within a supply chain and increase productivity while reducing costs.
Technology
Advances in technology are creating new and exciting components for machine tools. We use the latest technology to give our machines the best performance possible. Our machines feature direct drive on every axis and feedback measured in the low micron/arc-second range. Our customized approach to machine design allows these new technologies to be seamlessly integrated into new designs as the technology advances.
Innovation
We value innovation and are constantly searching for new methods and devices to accomplish tasks more efficiently. We engineered a new presser foot for stack routers that, when combined with programming, changes the way small parts are cut. We continue to look for new ways to improve safety and performance with new designs, simpler designs, and new technologies.
To illustrate the possibilities, our Stack Router is shown here, along with some performance data and design features.
This STACK ROUTER cell was designed to MAXIMIZE:
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And designed to MINIMIZE:
- Non value-adding processes (such as deburring)
- Material Waste
- Personnel required for operation
- Chip cleanup
- Human error
- Delivery time
- Material inventory
- Down time
To accomplish many of these goals, a material handling robot was developed. The robot was designed from the ground up to stack the aluminum sheets and insert the stacks into the router. With the robot able to stack and load the material automatically, workers are not needed behind the router and are kept away from the machine during operation. The workers simply load a pallet of sheets at the beginning of the shift, and spend the rest of the shift unloading parts. To reduce costs, the part unloading and the sacrifice sheet underneath the stack are manually processed by the workers. This manual section of the system allowed the machine to continue to set its own pace without automating 100% of the cell as requested by our customer.
Software on the PC-based system is integrated with the customer's database to retrieve part information and create nests for processing. The system even creates material reports to order material automatically depending on the orders received. The software keeps records of operation at all times, and allows for control over the ethernet by administrators. If an operator is not keeping up with the workload, the cause is transparent and documented.
The router itself incorporates numerous leading edge technologies with both off-the-shelf components and innovative custom designed assemblies. The cutting speed and accuracy is limited only by the technology of the cutter. It provides automatic tool offsets and broken tool detection. It has an incorporated tool storage system with too many features to mention. The control uses external feedback for the best possible accuracy. Rapid speeds and accelerations put it among the fastest routers in the world.
This system represents the best solution for this customer. Other customers may need more or less automation, and may have different part sizes and system requirements. We have the flexibility to make a system according to your requirements and give you exactly what you need. If you need a complete system, but you first need a standalone machine, we can supply the system in phases until you are ready for everything.
Contact Robotic-Solutions to discuss your application. Our engineering team is skilled at devising innovative ways of accomplishing complicated production tasks efficiently.