Machine tending robots boost productivity 15 per cent

MSP Ltd, a manufacturer of precision turned parts, has increased its production by 15 per cent on a single shift after taking delivery of a Denso four-axis machine-tending robot from AA Robotics. The robot loads and unloads components from pallets and holds them while sensors measure height and diameter.

The installation is part of a programme of investment that followed MSP's management buy-out earlier in 2007. AA Robotics recommended the robot to assist in the manufacture of gas meter fittings and prepared a 3D simulation and mechanical and electrical design for the manufacturing process, as well as providing the robot and grippers.

Pallets of components are carried on a conveyor from a multi-spindle automatic lathe. The robot takes a component from the pallet and presents it in the correct orientation to an automated horizontal drilling and tapping machine. Completed components are then removed, inspected and placed back into the same pallet before passing to the washing process.

Four-second cycle time

The robot has four seconds to unload, inspect, pack and reload the machine. A chuck clamp on the drilling and tapping machine has an opening of 0.5mm, which is well within the robot's capability of 0.02mm positioning repeatability. Parts are measured to 0.25mm as the component passes under the height sensor. The robot places suspect components into a reject bin. This removes the need to 'fixture' the component for inspection.

Because of the flexibility of the Denso robot, MSP is now investigating similar tasks that could benefit from automation. The company aims to make investment in flexible machine tending equipment that can be re-used for many different tasks and contracts.

Following the successful integration, Martin Smith, Quality Director of MSP, says: "Being able to select the exact robot for the application - be it a four-axis or a six-axis requirement using the same pendant and control systems - makes maintenance very easy. Having seen what is required on this first system, with help from AA Robotics we will be able to recognise further opportunities to streamline and optimise the efficiency of our manufacturing."

AA Robotics distributes Denso robots in UK and in Ireland. The range is from 3kg up to 20kg payload in four-axis or six-axis arm configurations with a reach from 400-1300mm. Denso robots have a fast 0.3s pick-and-place operation that is repeatable to 0.015mm.