Keywords
Citation
(2006), "Five-axis machining centre gains robot for handling and second-op machining", Industrial Robot, Vol. 33 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2006.04933daf.006
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Five-axis machining centre gains robot for handling and second-op machining
Five-axis machining centre gains robot for handling and second-op machining
Keywords: Robotics, Machine tools
Fully automatic loading and unloading of machining centres working 24/7 is becoming more and more important for manufacturers in developed countries in order to remain competitive. Usually, automated workpiece handling is achieved using a pallet change system but if the workpiece requires further processing such as deburring, grinding or washing, or if the sixth side has to be machined, a robot allows these additional operations to be carried out in a single set-up.
In a manufacturing cell shown by Hermle at recent exhibitions a milled demonstration workpiece was parted- off and deburred outside a C 30 U five- axis machining centre to produce a finished bottle opener. A robot cell was positioned to the front left of the machine, allowing the Kuka robot arm to enter the working area through the left half of the door. This gave the operator the benefit of free access to the machining centre via the right hand door for manual intervention, if necessary. Integrated into the robot cell were a drawer storage system, a circular saw driven by an air spindle and a linishing belt (Plate 6).
Plate 6
The Hermle C 30 U at the manufacturer's in-house exhibition was equipped
with a robot cell for automated workpiece handling and second-operation
machining, allowing production of complex parts in one hit
Workpieces to be machined entered the cell via the drawers. The robot opened the appropriate drawer, removed a blank, moved it to the working area of the machine and placed it on the 280 mm diameter, NC swivelling rotary table where it was clamped hydraulically. A double gripper was used to speed loading and unloading, allowing a machined piece to be removed and a blank to be inserted in the same cycle. A camera detected if a workpiece or blank was absent and had the capability to shut down the process automatically.
The workpiece was machined on five sides in the Hermle C 30 U machining centre. The resulting bottle opener was then removed from the machine by the robot, the base by which it was clamped was parted off from the sixth side using the saw, and the witness mark was removed at a linishing station, after which the part was stored for give Frank Roberts and Sons exceptional material and labour cost savings, with a healthy ROI
subsequent retrieval. If the next workpiece required a different gripper, this was also changed automatically.