ROBOTS GIVE FASTER CELL TOOL CHANGE TIMES

The new robots allow faster cell tool change times and are able to work more comfortably within target cycle times.

Installed over 13 years ago, the original Kawasaki robots provided virtually continuous operation in the automotive/truck air-brake fittings section. The new Kawasaki RS robots load and unload brass fittings to two rotary transfer machines, which have been moved to new bays in the plant. The cells are programmed to produce up to 100 variants of fitting in batches.

"The new robots are quicker – they work well within the machine cycle time and present the part to the machine before its cycle is finished,” says Mark Clark, manufacturing engineer at Norgren. "In addition, the old robots had a shorter reach which meant they needed to be moved on a slide fixture away from the transfer machine to facilitate tool setup. This had a potential to introduce inaccuracies and effectively slowed down tool changes

– this process isn’t necessary now as the new Kawasaki RS06L has a longer reach. So we now have faster tool changes and zero risk of the robot being out of position.”