Industrial Robot Automation for Manufacturing: Applications, Benefits and Solutions
Robot automation within the industrial sector helps manufacturers in achieving consistency in production, reduce repetitiveness, and ensure efficiency in the manufacturing environment. Industrial automation systems will be able to undertake processes like CNC machine tending, assembly, inspection, material handling, picking, and palletizing. The right robotics and automation systems depend upon application, volume of production, part specifications, cycle time, space, and integration requirements.
Quick Answer
Industrial robot automation refers to the use of programmable robots to perform repetitive, including material-handling processes, in manufacturing facilities. Some of the robotic automation processes include machine tending, assembly, automated inspection, material handling, picking, and palletizing. When selecting an automation system, manufacturers need to consider several factors including payload, reach, cycle time, repeatability, end-of-arm tooling and production volume.
Why Manufacturers Invest in Industrial Robot Automation
Robotics becomes important for the manufacturer when there are repetitive tasks that use labor, limit the capacity of the manufacturing plant or need some repetitive movements and handling.
Key advantages include:
-
Consistent production: Robotic machines can operate with consistency by performing the programmed actions consistently.
-
Increased efficiency: Automation of loading, unloading, handling, and assembling activities can increase efficiency.
-
Reducing repetitive actions: Robotic machines can carry out actions that involve repetitive operations and which are physically tiring.
-
Process consistency: Automation reduces the inconsistencies in a repetitive manufacturing process.
-
Production flexibility: Programmable systems are capable of adapting themselves to new changes in design and production.
-
Scalable automation: The manufacturer can start with just one process and can scale up according to production needs.
Industrial Robot Automation Applications in Manufacturing
Robotic Machine Tending
Robotic machine tending is beneficial to manufacturing companies that want to automate the process of loading, unloading, and parts handling for CNC machines. Different types of machine tending systems should be selected based on factors such as part weight and size, machine design, cycle time, robot reach, and gripping requirements.
Robotic Assembly
Robotics Assembly is a process that involves the use of robotics to perform repetitive operations such as positioning, inserting, fastening and handling parts. It is useful when manufacturers require repeatable movements and controlled production sequences.
Automated Robotic Inspection
Automated robotic inspection combines robots with inspection or vision equipment. In these systems, the robots either position the parts correctly for inspection purposes or move the inspection devices around the part.
Robotic Material Handling
Robotic material handling involves picking, conveying, sorting, palletizing, and depalletizing processes. Robots can provide consistent material handling between machines, workstations, storage areas, and production lines.
When Should You Invest in Industrial Robot Automation?
Automation would be appropriate in manufacturing processes where there is repetition, increased production needs, or even increased process consistency. In the following scenarios, manufacturers should seriously consider automation:
-
High volume of production or increasing demand
-
Repeated assembly procedures
-
Frequent inspection procedures
-
Material handling involving strenuous tasks
-
Precise positioning and repeated movements
-
Several production processes that can be linked together
-
Increased production without increasing manual labor
How to Choose the Right Industrial Automation Systems
Choosing the right industrial automation systems involves the analysis of the complete production process rather than selecting a robot based only on payload and reach.
-
Application Requirements: Define whether the system will perform loading, unloading, assembly, inspection, picking, handling, or even more functions.
-
Payload and Reach: The robot should be able to move the work piece and tooling safely while being able to reach all the required positions within the workspace.
-
Cycle Time: The industrial automation systems must be able to meet the necessary production rate without creating any bottlenecks in any of the other manufacturing operations.
-
Gripper and Custom End-of-Arm Tooling: The tooling must match the workpiece in terms of shape, weight, material and handling requirements.
-
Future Requirements: Future requirements must be considered as well.
When Custom Robotic Automation Makes Sense
Custom robotic automation becomes an essential requirement when standard systems fail to address the specific manufacturing requirements. Custom automation may be appropriate for:
-
Complex parts geometry
-
Specialized gripping mechanism
-
Limited workspace
-
Unique machine interfacing
-
Multiple automation functions
-
Application-specific inspection
-
Compatibility with existing equipment
-
Prototype to production demands
Choosing the Right Industrial Robotics Solutions
The right industrial robotics solutions should address the entire production process, such as robots, end-effectors, control systems, fixturing, sensors, safety considerations, interfaces with equipment, and future production demands.
Norck Robotics provides customized robotics and automation systems for various manufacturing processes, including machine tending, inspection, assembly, material handling, and robotic automation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which manufacturing operations can industrial robot automation facilitate?
Robotics automation in the industry can be applied to processes including CNC machine tending, assembly, inspection, material handling, picking, and palletizing. The right choice of robot depends on the application and requirements of the manufacturing process.
When should a manufacturer consider robotic machine tending?
Manufacturers should consider robotic machine tending when there is repetitive manual loading and unloading of CNC machines, an increase in production needs, or the need for consistent cycle time and part handling.
Can custom robotic automation be used in low-volume production?
Yes. Custom robotic automation may be appropriate for low-volume production where components are valuable, specialized handling is required, or repetitive tasks require substantial labor. Considerations that need to be made include utilization, labor, cycle time, integration, and future production needs.
How should manufacturers choose an industrial robot automation system?
The selection process has to begin with the operation, load, range, cycle time, precision, workpiece geometry, fixtures, machine interfaces, safety considerations, and quantity.
Need a Custom Industrial Robotics Solution?
Regardless of whether you need machine tending, inspection, assembly, material handling or any other automated solution, the system must be created taking into consideration your manufacturing needs.
Norck Robotics provides customized robotics and automation systems depending upon the manufacturing needs. For more information about our robotic automation services, please contact Norck Robotics.