The Solution

Premier generated several system arrangements for the customer’s consideration. The selected system arrangement consisted of two adjacent cells each comprised of the following components:

• A Fanuc CRX collaborative robot mounted onto a Macron Dynamic’s RTU (robot transport unit).

• Each robot was equipped with a Dynabrade 5” orbital sander attached to a Ferrobotics ACF (active contact flange).

• Two part load/unload stations, each comprised of a t-slot table and a safety mat

• Dedicated part fixtures, constructed from low-cost MDF “bread” boards and applied 3D printed fixture blocks, would be loaded/unloaded onto the tables by an operator.

• The safety mat would detect the presence of an operator (at a station) and the robot would be inhibited from this station by Fanuc’s dual check safety (DCS) software.

• Robot motion path programs were generated for each part face using a combination of hand teaching and Fanuc’s Roboguide simulation software.

• Process adjustments for grind force, robot speed, and motion path can be made through a local HMI.

• Additional features of the system included using the robot to touch off on a part for part verification, logging of the time on part for predictive media change, and an overhead monitor to display OEE production data.

Benefits:

• The system arrangement minimizes downtime, by providing the ability for an operator to exchange a part at one part station, while the robot processes a part at the other part station.

• The dedicated MDF boards eliminate the time required to tear down and erect traditional modular workholding fixtures.

• The ACF is a compliance device which delivers a constant, programmable force of the media against the part, ensuring a consistent uniform finish.

• The CRX robot includes a hand-teaching function, facilitating motion path teaching and touch-up.