Standard Machine Tending cells
Premier Automation have a range of standard machine tool loading cells which we have developed over a number of projects. We have worked with many different machine tool suppliers and are very experienced in the areas of machine tool interfaces and also of gripper design and safety integration. All of these standard cells are designed to integrate with multiple machine tool platforms.
Automatic machine tool loading offers significant benefits by increasing efficiency and safety while reducing labour costs. By automating the process of loading and unloading parts or tools, production downtime is minimized, leading to higher throughput and better utilization of machinery. Automation reduces human error, ensuring greater precision and quality consistency across batches. It also allows machines to operate continuously, even during off-hours, improving overall productivity and reducing costs. Additionally, automatic loading systems enhance worker safety by minimizing manual handling of heavy or hazardous components, while freeing operators to focus on more skilled and value-added tasks.
AMR-loaded Machine tool tending cell
This cell is designed to be loaded and unloaded with pre-filled fixtured trays by an AMR . This approach is particularly useful where you have a number of machines across a factory as it enables all of the loading to be done in a single location, either by a robot using random bin picking or by an operator. The AMRs then take the unfinished parts to the machine tools, and they can take finished parts to the next operation or to storage.
This approach also allows you to have the maximum un-manned running whilst keeping the ;padding cells very simple and cost effective.
Pallet loaded Machine tool tending cell
This cell is designed to be pallet loaded either with pre-fixtured or randomly placed parts. If the parts are pre-fixtured then the cell is very simple, with the robot simply picking the parts sequentially off the fixtures
If the parts are loaded randomly then the cell includes vision to enable the robot to identify and grip the parts.
Conveyor fed machine tool tending cell
This cell is equipped with a flat belt infeed on which the operator places the parts to be loaded. An overhead vision system identifies the parts to enable the robot to pick them and load them to the machine tool. Finished parts are placed on the lower outfeed belt by the robot.
Pallet conveyor fed machine tool tending cell
This cell has a pallet conveyor infeed to allow a large number of parts to be loaded to the system an allow continuous lights out operation over a night or even a weekend.
The pallets can either have fixture locations on them , or they can just be flat for random part loading, in which case the robot will be equipped with a vision system to locate the parts for accurate loading.
Finished parts are loaded onto the empty pallets so there is an equal amount of outfeed to infeed storage
