Metal Fabrication
- Industry: Metal Fabrication, Tire
- Challenge: Castings
The part weights and the reach into the press made handling difficult. The customer used special fixtures and a forklift truck to do the transfer. Rotation was accomplished by setting the mold down and rotating it by hand, before picking it up again with the forklift. The transfer back to the press was very time consuming and much of the pre-heating was lost. This resulted in numerous castings being lost while the mold was reheating again during the process.
- Industry: Metal Fabrication, Tire
- Challenge: Engine Handling
Multiple parts to be handled. The dunnage and bell housing create clearance restrictions above, below, and around the part. This leaves the face of the flywheel as the only exposed surface for gripping. The gripper cannot interfere with power tool access for driving in the attachment bolts. The entire process must be completed within a 54 second cycle time.
- Industry: Appliances, HVAC, Metal Fabrication
- Challenge: Sheet Lifting
There were a wide variety of panel sizes, weights and configurations. Panel variations include flat sheets that could only be p-icked up with a vacuum end-effector and panels with large round holes that could only be picked up with a gripper end-effector.
- Industry: Metal Fabrication
- Challenge: Cylindrical
The core shafts are long and weigh 200 lbs. each. Two operators were required to handle the part. Finished drum surface couldn’t be marred or scratched by the shaft. There were many work cell obstructions and limited floor space.
- Industry: Aerospace, Construction, HVAC, Metal Fabrication
- Challenge: Sheet Lifting
Handling various sizes of materials including tubing, channel, steel plates and formed sheet metal with only one manipulator.
- Industry: Metal Fabrication
End-effector must handle large variations in roll diameters. The roll cannot withstand excessive grip force. The unit would need to handle over 5,000 in-lbs. of off-center moment loading.
- Industry: Metal Fabrication
The grip range of the end-effector must handle large variations in rolls. The roll cannot withstand excessive grip force. The manipulator must handle up to 1,000 pounds of payload and still rotate easily.
- Industry: Metal Fabrication
- Challenge: Pallet Handling
Pallets are very heavy, awkward to handle and expensive. Operators are presently using a forklift and hoist to handle parts. Machining centers have limited space and a hoist does not hold the part securely or provide precise placement control.
- Industry: Metal Fabrication
- Challenge: Cylindrical
The cylinders weigh between 50 to 100 lbs., 8″ – 10″ diameter and 48″ – 52″ long. 120″ of radial reach is required for three pick up and place points. The cylinders are up to 350° in temperature when the are brought to the work cell. Plant safety procedures require maintenance personnel must be able to service the electrical and hydraulic components from floor level.