CASE STUDY
MACHINE TENDING 24/7
INDUSTRY
Metal Parts Manufacturing
TYPE OF ROBOT
ER-250-UR10e (V1) with an FG 3 Finger Gripper
DISTRIBUTOR
INTEGRATION
Robot programming: Customer
MES intergration: Gibson Engineering
SCOPE OF PROJECT
Momentum Manufacturing Group aims to automate CNC-related workflows to meet demand and achieve lights-out manufacturing. As a proof of concept, they’ve selected a workflow where a metal part is picked from a CNC lathe, cleaned in an air cleaner, then checked for tolerances and tool wear in a Coordinate Measuring Machine. Finally, accepted parts are neatly packed into pigeonhole boxes.
SOLUTION
To run a 24/7 workflow, the robot charges while working. By strategically placing machines in the production layout, the robot can serve three workstations from one location, ensuring continuous operation.
The entire workflow is controlled by ER-ABILITY software integrated with an MES system, coordinating when the robot and machines start and stop. The robot communicates directly with the lathe machine to open the door.
Phase 1 was successful, and Phase 2 will add three more lathe machines to maximize robot utilization.
The robot’s programming was handled by engineers at Momentum Manufacturing Group, with integration managed by Gibson Engineering.
The goal is to scale this setup across other MMG sites, with workers and operators collaborating with the robot to reschedule machines for new metal part batches.
AUTOMATED WORKFLOW
By using the ER FLEX, we can use the cobot to serve the coordinate measurement machine, the part cleaner and multiple lathes in one cycle which is much more efficient than fixed robots on every machine or work station
