hrishikesh.tavar

When approaching the automation of a system there are many factors to take into consideration including: product in-feed, product out-feed, cycle rate, quality inspection, and as important as the technical specifications a shared definition of success.  When you move into applications that involve handling small parts “microparts” another level of complexity is typically added to the equation due to challenges in handling the parts on the in-feed side.  Traditionally, the in feed of parts into an automation cell is done with products like a bowl feeder.  Bowl feeders have allowed many successful automation solutions to be deployed but have limitations including: changeover (each bowl feeder is designed for a specific part), high investment that can’t be easily re-purposed, difficulty handling delicate material, and jamming & part re-circulation.  There are applications where a vibratory bowl feeder is the right in-feed solution.  We have found these applications to be purpose built automation cells handling limited parts with high volumes at high speeds. Finding the Right Solution At Sure Controls we want to offer our customers with the best solution for their application requirements.  This leads into where we prefer to leverage technologies available from companies like Asyril to integrate their 3-axis vibration “Asycube” flexible part feeding solutions into robotic automation cells.  With a wide range of flexible part feeding solutions our robotic integration designers can help customers automate in areas where in the past it may not have been economically or technically feasible.  With the integration of flexible part feeders we have successfully provided systems in the electronics, medical, automotive, and plastics industries.  In each of these markets we were able to introduce a technology that allowed the customer to improve the automation cell or entirely rethink how they could automate at a lower volume allowing them to secure business they may have previously not being securing.At Sure Controls we are committed to deliver smiles and that is how we define success when providing a solution to our customers.  You may be asking: “What does that mean?”  What that means is that we measure our success on whether a customer is smiling at the end of a solution we provide.  As this relates to micro-automation (small part automation) our customers have been smiling when we delivered solutions that: We hope this has been educational and please do not hesitate to contact us to learn more about micro-automation.  You can contact us here. We are always looking to learn more and look forward to learning about your application requirements and how we may be able to put a smile on your face the next time you think of automating.

Earlier the purpose of automation was to increase productivity (since automated systems can work 24 hours a day) and to reduce the cost associated with human operators (i.e. wages & benefits). However, today, the focus of automation has shifted to increasing quality and flexibility in the manufacturing process. In the automobile industry, the installation of pistons into the engine used to be performed manually with an error rate of 1-1.5%. Presently, this task is performed using automated machinery with an error rate of 0.00001%. Advantages of Industrial Automation Lower operating cost: Industrial automation eliminates healthcare costs and paid leave and holidays associated with a human operator. Further, industrial automation does not require other employee benefits such as bonuses, pension coverage, etc. Above all, although it is associated with a high initial cost it saves the monthly wages of the workers which leads to substantial cost savings for the company. The maintenance cost associated with machinery used for industrial automation is less because it does not often fail. If it fails, only computer and maintenance engineers are required to repair it. High Productivity Although many companies hire hundreds of production workers for up to three shifts to run the plant for the maximum number of hours, the plant still needs to be closed for maintenance and holidays. Industrial automation fulfills the aim of the company by allowing the company to run a manufacturing plant for 24 hours a day 7 days a week and 365 days a year. This leads to a significant improvement in the productivity of the company. High Quality Automation alleviates the error associated with a human being. Further, unlike human beings, robots do not involve any fatigue, which results in products with uniform quality manufactured at different times. High Flexibility Adding a new task in the assembly line requires training with a human operator, however, robots can be programmed to do any task. This makes the manufacturing process more flexible. High Information Accuracy Adding automated data collection can allow you to collect key production information, improve data accuracy, and reduce your data collection costs.  This provides you with the facts to make the right decisions when it comes to reducing waste and improving your processes. High Safety Industrial automation can make the production line safe for employees by deploying robots to handle hazardous conditions.

CNC Simulator Pro is a Windows application used to simulate CNC programs before running them on an actual machine. The program supports 2-4 axis machines such as Milling machines, Turning machines, Laser Cutters, Plasma Cutters, Water Jet, 3D Printers, Plotters, and more. It is the ideal tool for workshops wanting to test their code. It is also great for hobbyists and schools. Developing and testing CNC code on the computer saves both time and money, is safer, and is more efficient.