Which is Higher? Intrusive or Non-Intrusive CNC Machine Tending?

Relating to machine tending automation, the simplest to deploy options are virtually all the time these which can be easiest.

However does this imply it is best to select an intrusive or a non-intrusive resolution?

Intrusive automation options are customized constructed in your particular wants. This implies they’re completely suited to your manufacturing line, however the integration course of is prolonged, complicated, and expensive. Non-intrusive automation options, however, are fast to deploy and could be simply utilized to virtually any manufacturing line.

Which kind of resolution is healthier? Customized intrusive automation or off-the-shelf non-intrusive automation?

With the precise info and a transparent understanding of each choices, you may make essentially the most applicable selection in your machine tending course of.

What’s CNC machine tending and why automate?

Robotic machine tending is the method of utilizing robots to load and unload components from CNC machines. This often includes including uncooked supplies to the machine and eradicating the completed merchandise after the machining cycle.

Machine tending automation can assist enhance the effectivity of your manufacturing course of by eradicating this uninteresting and repetitive process from the fingers of human staff.

These machinists can then transfer to extra precious and attention-grabbing duties inside your facility. This makes their jobs extra rewarding and helps enhance security as they aren’t interacting with harmful equipment.

Different advantages of automated machine tending is that it helps enhance product high quality by making certain components are all the time positioned within the machine in precisely the identical means each time.

Teaching waypoint with the Robotiq Machine Tending Solution.

Intrusive vs non-intrusive CNC machine tending

You possibly can consider there being two kinds of robotic machine tending resolution: intrusive and non-intrusive.

Intrusive programs require in depth integration time and finances. You both want a excessive diploma of information and experience in robotic integration or you have to rent somebody who does.

In distinction, a non-intrusive resolution — the Robotiq Machine Tending Resolution is the pioneer on this method — is predicated on normal, off-the-shelf applied sciences. Because of this easy method, you should utilize non-intrusive options with virtually any CNC machine.

Listed here are the professionals and cons of every method:

Intrusive machine tending options

That is the basic sort of robotic machine tending. Earlier than the Robotiq resolution got here alongside, this was the one sort.

Intrusive options require you to combine with the CNC machine’s controller and {hardware} by way of the robotic’s programming.

Benefits of intrusive automation are:

Absolutely custom-made to your particular machine.
Means that you can entry all CNC machine performance, with superior programming.
Effectively-established method, so there are various options in the marketplace.

Disadvantages are:

Integration is complicated and costly, taking quite a lot of time.
Requires in depth robotics data and experience.
Laborious to enhance and replace following modifications to the method.

Non-intrusive machine tending options

The Robotiq Machine Tending Resolution takes a really completely different method. It’s a non-intrusive resolution.

Non-intrusive components to automate a CNC Machine

Non-intrusive signifies that the answer makes use of normal applied sciences like mild sensors and linear actuators. As a substitute of interfacing with the CNC machine’s communication protocols, the robotic system makes use of these off-the-shelf parts to work together as a human operator would — by trying on the standing lights and urgent buttons.

It is a less complicated, cheaper various and could be simply utilized to virtually any CNC machine.

Benefits of non-intrusive automation are:

Easier to deploy and really simple to make use of.
No robotics data or programming expertise wanted.
Suitable with many extra CNC machines.

Disadvantages are:

There are fewer options in the marketplace. Our resolution is a pioneer.
Doubtlessly much less appropriate to full-scale automation throughout a whole manufacturing plant.
If you wish to entry extra superior performance of the CNC machine, you may want further integration.

How a non-intrusive machine tending resolution works

How can a machine tending robotic interface along with your CNC machine with out utilizing the machine’s communication protocols?

With the Robotiq resolution, we now have solved one of many largest challenges with typical CNC machine tending utilizing a easy method.

The essential philosophy behind a non-intrusive system is that this: Use the CNC machine in the identical means as a human operator would.

This includes:

Utilizing mild sensors to detect the CNC machine’s standing by “trying” at its standing lights.
Utilizing a linear actuator to press the machine’s foot pedal to open and shut the door.
Urgent the “Begin” button on the machine’s management panel to activate the following machining cycle.

These options are very simple. With this method, we will take away an enormous quantity of the friction that’s generally related to machine tending automation.

How to decide on the precise sort of automation for your online business

Discovering the precise automation resolution for your online business could be a robust resolution. There are quite a lot of competing options in the marketplace. To the untrained eye, these options can appear to be fairly related, even when they’re truly very completely different.

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all for automation — though the Robotiq Machine Tending Resolution comes shut. A number of elements will affect your selection of resolution, together with the scale of your organization, the quantity of automation you need to deploy, and the particular wants of your machinists.

No matter machine tending resolution you select, attempt to discover examples of people that have carried out the identical as you. You will discover some examples of groups which have utilized machine tending automation in our case research library.

Your selection: customized vs. off-the-shelf automation

Finally, the selection of whether or not you automate with an intrusive or a non-intrusive resolution is as much as you.

With the precise info and steering, you may make the very best resolution in your wants, finances, and degree of expertise.

An important factor is to discover a resolution that can mean you can automate your particular CNC machines. With the precise resolution, you’ll be a part of the various companies which can be utilizing robots to make their manufacturing extra environment friendly.

It’s also possible to see our Machine Tending Resolution in motion on this demo.

What has held you again from machine tending automation till now? Inform us within the feedback under or be a part of the dialogue on LinkedIn, Twitter, Fb, or the DoF skilled robotics group.