For each of the four drawer units, the
operator inputs the size and weight of the
billets. Each drawer contains a single billet
size only (up to four different parts can be
made using the same stock, however), with
each drawer able to hold different sized
billets. The drawer pin confi guration is then
displayed, along with the maximum number
of billets for that drawer. Once the operator
inputs the quantity of billets in the drawer,
the HMI will indicate where to stack them
and how high each stack will be. The visionenabled
robot will check afterwards. After one
draw is set, machining can begin; setting of
remaining draws can continue in parallel
The operator needs to link a job/NC program with each vice
and hence the billet that will be placed in it. Single- or both-side
machining are also specifi ed at this step. A turnover station
supports automated both-sides machining where it is required
robot parked (although it will stop if not), all without the
machining cycle being interrupted.
To give users some con dence on automation reliability and
availability, Atherton says that a remote diagnostics card will be
tted free for a year.
Final statement from XYZ's top man: “More than anything else,
it's about getting an extra shift out of everybody for not much effort,
I believe. I am absolutely certain that, having seen what I've seen
over the last two years, if I ran a subcontract machine shop there is
no way I wouldn't have some sort of robot loading and unloading.
It's got to be the way.” A series of events is planned to let people
consider that thought more thoroughly for themselves.
Robots & cobots
Weren't cobots supposed to present a low-cost and safe
machine load/unload solution? Adelphi Automation's managing
director, Paul Stout, says that his company is involved in several
such projects, but says: “Not one of them is being used as a
cobot, believe or not. Industry is very tentative. There aren't any
formal CE standards right now; guidelines, yes, but not naileddown
safety standards. It's a grey area.” So enclosures, either
physical or light scanners, are the norm. Other cobot limitations
versus robots are that they have lower payloads, less reach and
lower speed, he says, also that they are not as price
competitive as is believed for the same capability.
46 September 2019 www.machinery.co.uk @MachineryTweets
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