Automation & Controls

These state-of-the-art components improve the productivity and reliability of these critical machines and increase their service life by 15 to 20 years. A new control and drive system can increase machine downtime to 95 percent, with a payback period of 12 to 18 months. These replacements can be done for a fraction of the cost of a new machine – one-fourth to one-fifth of the cost, on average.

At every stage of manufacturing, there is an opportunity for automation. Unfortunately, many manufactures often let perceived barriers keep them from implementing complete machine or process automation. With this mindset, they end up limiting their productivity by automating only one or two aspects of the process or not automating at all.

Robotmaster, a Hypertherm brand, is an offline robot programming software that helps manufacturers maximize their robot's productivity with easy and efficient robot programming for a variety of applications such as cutting, trimming, milling, welding, spraying, polishing, sanding, grinding, deburring, and more. Robotmaster uses integrated CAD/CAM functionality to make robotic programming easy and intuitive for everyone, even first-time users.

When looking at the place of metrology in the "Fourth Industrial Revolution," it is interesting to ponder whether Industry 4.0 is being driven by developments in metrology or metrology developments are being driven by Industry 4.0.

The toolless jaw quick-change system reduces set-up times to a minimum, therefore increasing the productivity and flexibility of the entire system. Dowel pins and a corresponding bore hole are available options, serving as additional mounting aides. For example, in the case of asymmetric finger pairs, this ensures that they can only be mounted in the correct position.

Despite the benefits, CNC automation does not have a one-size-fits-all solution. Here's what to know before you automate.

For manufacturers who produce different components on the same line, and therefore need to regularly change grippers, this system is highly beneficial. One and the same programmable gripper solution is used to handle all blanks, regardless of shape and size. The transition is automatic and takes less than two minutes.

Customer and industry input drives development from faster 2D to expanded multiaxis.

This video supplement to the Robotics Results column in the October 2021 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine features the RoboJob-USA Turn Assist Essential i model with a Schunk three-finger gripper on a Haas Automation St-30 CNC machine. The setup helped a shop increase productivity 48%. n

Made4CNC's first official product, the Safedoor SD100 removes the barriers to the automation of component feeding at machine shops. Safedoor SD100 opens CNC doors that are up to 1 meter wide and weigh 400 kg, at a speed of 500 mm/s. The door opener can connect to any robot and CNC machine make via galvanic insulated digital inputs and outputs.

Drag finishing system doubles stamping tool life

Methods Machine Tools Inc. targets standard automation packages for its work cells.