5.
Robots provide
the perfect plug-and-
play solution.
7. Robots can potentially
achieve a return on
investment in less than
two years.
Most robots operate using a similar control
system, and the best ones will be easy to
use, with little programming experience
required. The slow uptake of robots by manufacturers
is often due to a hesitation over the
purchase cost.
It is best practice, however, to ensure that
a cell largely includes the same brand of
machines. This will ensure that the robots
and machines will be able to communicate
effectively, with minimum set-up required. While robots may not currently be cost-
effective for low volume, high cycle time
production, they can achieve a return on
investment for high volume, low cycle time
processes.
In some cases, integration of a robot as part
of a cell could take as little as two hours,
making it the perfect plug-and-play solution
for machine tending applications. In some cases, this can be achieved in as
little as two years.
6. Robots are flexible and can
work with more than one
part.
Although robots cannot tend several
different machines at once, they can work
with a range of parts and components, if
programmed correctly.
For example, an automatic tool-change
station will allow a robot to change grippers
in order to suit the size and shape of the
part being handled. Vision capabilities also
ensure that a robot can recognise a part as
it is fed-in, and alter its position, gripper or
function accordingly.
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PECM Issue 34
This is largely due to the increased
productivity, capacity, efficiency and
unmanned capability that a robot can
provide for a manufacturing process, but
it is also representative of the expansion
capabilities that automation can present to
UK manufacturers who, thanks to a higher
level of reliable, consistent output, are able
to compete at an international level to a
wider range of customers and sectors.
UK manufacturing can only compete on
an international level if it recognises the
importance of integrating automation and
robotics as a part of its processes.
Swapping out workers for robots on manual,
repetitive tasks is a simple and effective
place to start.
By taking this first step, manufacturers are
investing in the future productivity and
efficiency of UK manufacturing, as well as
the skills of the UK workforce.
That is the true value of automation.
Mark Schlanker is a regional sales manager
in the robotics division at FANUC UK, where
he has worked for more than four years.
To find out more about retrofitting
robots for machine tending, please
visit www.fanuc.eu/uk/en/industrial-
applications/machine-tending