Automation
returns when the batch is complete, unloads the fixtures and loads the next parts.” If the component is not particularly complex, then a gantry loader is more efficient and user- friendly than a six-axis robot arm, he suggests. “Another advantage is that the gantry arm can remain within the work area during machining. This provides the machine shop with an option for running the 2nd Op of the part on the sub-spindle, while the gantry arm is inside changing the part over. The result is reduced cycle time as there is no opening or closing of the door and waiting for a robot arm to enter and exit.” An integrated (on-machine) robot arm such as the Okuma ROID series becomes attractive for parts such as detailed castings or components with difficult edges, and sometimes when the machine shop needs more flexibility or undertakes tasks like in-process inspection. Machine-integrated robots avoid the large footprint associated with robotic cells and negate any requirement for dedicated personnel to program the robot’s movement. “We can also source stand-alone robot arms from third-party suppliers, before performing the integration and any necessary customisation in-house,” says Phil Cattaneo. “We sell the
dramatically, providing fast return-on- investment.
“I regularly visit machine shops with say 20 machines, where often only four or five have green lights to indicate they are running. The rest are idle for whatever reason. Achieving 20-25% spindle uptime isn’t making the most of their investments; this is what automation can put right.” But what type of automation? There are so many variants, with selection hinging on the specific application. There are industrial robots, collaborative robots, stacker cranes and more. Moreover, automation is about far more than robot arms. For instance, NCMT can enhance machine tools from its principals, Okuma and Makino, with options that include pallet changers, gantry loaders and fixture-plate handling systems, to list but a few. Pick and choose “If a machine shop needs flexibility for 1-offs and small batches, or the parts are very complex to handle or expensive to fixture, a pallet changer is a good option,” says Phil Cattaneo. “A human still performs the loading, but the company benefits from extensive unmanned running. The operator
27 Machinery & Manufacturing
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