Enhance Automation and Fill in the Skills Gap with Machine Tending Robots
May 26, 2018
Machine tending can be integrated onto an automation line to further increase productivity, product quality, and overall safety. Machine tending robots can enhance the automation process even further by taking over the tedious and repetitive loading and unloading.
Improving an existing automated production line with robotic machine tending can help a company stay competitive on a global scale while also helping to fill the skills gap in automation.
What is Machine Tending?
Typical automation systems require a worker to load or unload, controlling the overall pace. Machine tending is when robots load raw material, the machine executes its program, and then the robot takes the finished part out and loads the machine as often as necessary. This is different from material handling as tending is more complex as there is constant communication with a CNC machine and the performance of a few different functions.
Benefits of Machine Tending
Robotic machine tending can drastically improve uptimes, accuracy, and repeatability when compared to manual loading and unloading of specific processes or applications. The exchange of parts by a robot can be accomplished more precisely and faster than an operator, resulting in increased machine utilization.
Automated machine tending can also improve safety and reduce overall errors providing reduced downtime, minimized waste, and increased throughput. The robot will need to stop periodically for regular maintenance however it still has an overall higher up-time than manual labor by being able to continue to boost throughput. Operating costs can be lowered and space can be saved as these robots help to advance your automation process.
When a robot is used to tend machines, employees can be relieved of repetitive and dirty work. This allows companies to use their employees for a deeper value on their production line. For those that can’t find employees to do the necessary work, then the machine tending robots are ready to step in and get the work done!
Flexibility with Machine Tending
There is a robot tending solution for every conceivable production scenario. Machine tending robots can be adapted to more than one type of piece with flexible robot grippers. They also can be installed overhead and serve two machines at a time. Machine tending can be used for loading and unloading parts for grinding, milling and turning, injection molds, stamping, punching, trimming, and forging, compression molds, and welding.
Filling in the Skills Gap with Machine Tending
The manufacturing business in the United States is booming with an additional 24,000 jobs listed in April 2018 alone by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, the necessary work that is needed during this boom is imbalanced as there is a lack of skilled labor available to get it done. Enter machine tending.
Machine tending can accomplish the loading and unloading on your production line without relying on someone not yet trained to come fill the job. The skills gap is being addressed with the push for increased manufacturing education necessary to meet the growing challenge. In the meantime, machine tending robots are ready to get the job done quickly and effectively.
Contact Robots.com Experts Today!
It is now easy to see that almost any manual or pre-existing automated task can be advanced with machine tending. The production speeds, flexibility, quality, and consistency can be increased with the integration of a machine tending robot on your production line.
Robots.com experts have over twenty five years of manufacturing experience and look forward to guiding you to the perfect automation solution. For more information on torch mounts, contact the representatives at Robots.com online or at 877−762−6881. Learn more about Machine Loading Robots.
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