Articles

Is Your Company Ready for Robots?

There are a few items you should figure out to decide if you are robot-ready. First, decide which dangerous or tedious tasks should replace humans so that they remove any safety hazards. Next, decide which precise tasks are necessary to be completed so that a robot can bring greater accuracy and precision to the line. Finally, understand your budget and what exactly you are looking for with a robotic system integration.

Standard vs. Customized End-of-Arm Tooling

When you are integrating a robotic system onto your production line, it is important to choose the correct end-of-arm-tooling for your process. The perfect EOAT can help keep your production line running smoothly and quickly, bringing optimal speed, accuracy, and ultimately ROI. You can choose between a standard EOAT or get a custom EOAT built to specifically meet your needs.

Welding and Assembly at World Block – Duluth, Minnesota

World Block, Inc. worked with Robots.com to integrate a robot on their production line for help with their steel forms and retaining walls. They purchased their first system from Robots.com in 2008 and saw huge labor savings and improved product quality. Because of their great success with the first system, they purchased their second system through Robots.com as well. Overall, World Block, Inc. is able to produce a better quality product at a more affordable price for their customers.

Robotics in the Lab with KLA-Tencor – Milpitas, CA

A robotics lab called KLA-Tencor conducts a lot of word with nanoelectronics, semiconductors, LED, data storage, and general research. They were looking for a robotic system to integrate and Robots.com answered. KLA-Tencor chose an ABB IRB 120 IRC5 robot to boost their flexibility and productivity. Robots.com made sure the members of the team were properly trained.

Thermal Spraying with F.W. Gartner – Houston, TX

F.W. Gartner in Houston, Texas has been providing coating solutions for customers for over 90 years. Recently, Robots.com providing a new thermal spray solution for their facility. F.W. Gartner could not have been happier with their Motoman MH50-20 DX100 robot from Robots.com. They have stated that this system has boosted their productivity and offers greater flexibility.

Reducing Downtime with Motor Wheel/STEMCO – Berea, KY

Motor Wheel/STEMCO is using Fanuc R-2000iA/165F robots for their facility in Berea, Kentucky. The R-2000iA/165F was able to improve the organization oifi the production area, improve safety, and decrease downtime. Motor Wheel was very happy with their investment and know the ROI will be quick and effective.

PPP Robots – Picking, Packing, and Palletizing

Picking, packing, and palletizing applications have all gained huge improvements on the production line in their speeds and quality through the integration of industrial robots. Companies are quickly learning that investing in a picking, packing, or palletizing system will enable more accurate and efficient performance on their production line.

Adaptive Machining – ABB Force Control Packages

ABB has created a way to enhance the adaptability on production lines- RobotWare Force Control packages. The speed and path will be constant with force control packages, enhancing the overall product quality. Force Control also allows a robot to adapt its machining to the surface contours and the consistency of the materials, giving customers access to a new level of robotic intelligence when working with steel, stainless steel, aluminum, magnesium, wood, plastics, glass, and other materials.

Welding Gases

Welding gases are a product of welding and cutting applications that must be carefully regulated to produce the correct results. For instance, shielding gases like carbon dioxide, argon, and helium and fuel gases such as acetylene, propane, and butane, help to create these results. It is also important to regulate the byproduct of these gases.

Robotics Manufacturers Crank Up Their Collaborative Efforts

Robotics manufacturers crank up their collaborative efforts, there are a wide range of robots available from big manufactureres such as Fanuc, KUKA, Motoman, Universal Robots, and ABB. They are bringing new technologies to the production line that are enabling humans and robots to collaborate together and do away with old safety barriers.

Taking Care of the Heavy Stuff – The Fanuc CR-35iA

The Fanuc CR-35ia is a collaborative robot that can lift up to 35 kg and does not need any safety barriers between it and human workers. The CR35ia has sensors that enable it to stop whenever it gets too close to a human worker. It can complete a wide range of applications in the automotive, packaging, distribution, and metal working industries.

Embarking into New Territory – PLC-Based Robotic Systems

Robots.com has built a Programmable Logic Control (PLC)-based system that is controlled by one small blue box. The system built by Robots.com is a palletizing system that will palletize buckets of laundry detergent. They chose the Motoman MPL 160 robot for this because it is a top speed, highly reliable robot.