Within the manufacturing trade, robotic machine tending has lengthy been seen as tough and sophisticated. It takes loads of talent and expertise to automate the duty of loading and unloading a CNC machine.
This perceived complexity of machine tending has been a deterrent for a lot of companies. Robotics additionally looks like an costly funding, because it requires you to buy new and specialised gear.
Over the previous few years, machine tending automation has change into quite a bit easier to make use of. Because of the arrival of collaborative robots — and, extra lately, robotic software kits — you now not have to fret about coping with the complexities of robotic expertise.
All you want is an understanding of the fundamentals and also you’re good to go!
Listed below are 10 explanation why machine tending automation is now simpler to make use of than ever…
1. Robotic expertise is simpler to make use of
Because of the persevering with development of robotic expertise, machine tending automation simply retains getting simpler and simpler to make use of.
For nearly all of business historical past, machine operators have needed to have a tendency CNC machines manually. Robotic machine tending has been an answer for a few years, however the expertise has been restrictively advanced, particularly for machinists who do not typically have robotics expertise.
In recent times, robots have change into really easy to make use of that even machinists with no robotics information can use them.
2. Techniques can combine with any CNC machine
One drawback with typical machine tending options is that they require loads of customization and sophisticated programming.
Conventional robotic integration strategies contain interfacing with the CNC machine’s communication protocols. This may be tough to implement, notably for older machines that weren’t designed with automation in thoughts.
New automation options, just like the Robotiq Machine Tending Answer, can interface with nearly any CNC machine because it makes use of non-invasive integration.
3. Robotic programming is now not an elite exercise
Many individuals imagine that robotic programming is tough and requires loads of expertise. Prior to now, this was true… however not anymore.
As of late, programming robots for machine tending duties is now simpler than ever earlier than. With the programming wizard supplied in a robotic software equipment, customers simply want to pick a number of properties of their job and this system will do all of the advanced programming work robotically.
4. Plug-and-play software kits simplify all the pieces
A latest improvement in robotics is plug-and-play software kits. These comprise all the pieces it’s worthwhile to deploy a robotic to a selected software.
An software equipment will embody parts such because the robotic arm itself, the controller, further {hardware} (equivalent to that required to interface with the CNC machine), and all needed software program.
An instance of such an software equipment is the Robotiq Machine Tending Answer.
5. Robots are extra reasonably priced than they was once
Robots are more and more turning into extra reasonably priced, which is opening robotic automation as much as extra new customers. Corporations that would not have been capable of afford machine tending automation previously can now entry it simply.
With extra individuals utilizing robots, that is making them much more reasonably priced as economies of scale come into play. This virtuous cycle is prone to end in ever-increasing numbers of robots being deployed throughout industries.
6. You’ve got higher entry to assist and coaching
One factor that makes any new expertise simpler to make use of is plentiful entry to high-quality assist and coaching. Whereas some individuals nonetheless suppose that robots are tough to make use of, with the best assist and coaching, they are often extraordinarily user-friendly.
Assets like our free Robotiq eLearning platform cut back loads of the friction historically related to robotic integration.
7. There are various success tales to be taught from
If you end up contemplating investing in any new expertise, it may be extraordinarily useful to listen to the success tales of others who’ve used the identical expertise.
With collaborative robotic machine tending, there are actually loads of useful success tales you possibly can view. These can assist you see how others have utilized robots to their CNC machines.
You’ll find some tales in our Case Research library and much more within the DoF robotics discussion board.
8. The payback time is impressively brief
One essential issue for any new expertise funding is the payback time — the time it takes for the expertise to “pay for itself.”
A shorter payback time typically signifies {that a} explicit expertise may have a better return on funding (ROI) over the course of its lifetime.
Collaborative robots typically have an impressively brief payback time in comparison with typical automation. A machine tending cobot pays for itself in just some months.
9. You’ll be able to implement automation regularly
Standard automation was typically an “all or nothing” state of affairs — you both automated your complete workflow otherwise you automated nothing.
With collaborative robots and trendy software kits, you can begin small by simply making use of machine tending to at least one CNC machine.
Upon getting validated the automation method with one machine, it is simple to copy-and-paste the robotic cell to different machines in your facility. This lets you regularly develop your automation over time.
10. Robotic expertise is continually bettering
Over the past decade, we have seen robotic expertise turning into simpler and simpler to make use of.
With these developments, we have seen an increasing number of individuals beginning to use robots for his or her machine tending. Producers in numerous industries have discovered robots to be an awesome answer to assist them enhance productiveness, cut back downtime, and make the perfect use of their human employees.
Robotic expertise is constantly evolving. With the arrival of software kits, just like the Robotiq Machine Tending Answer, it is now simpler than ever for brand new customers to maintain up-to-date with the most recent developments.
So… which machine tending job may you automate?
What has been holding you again from automating machine tending? Inform us within the feedback under or be part of the dialogue on LinkedIn, Twitter, Fb, or the DoF skilled robotics neighborhood.
