The age-old profitability dilemma of how to increase production without adding more payroll costs to the operating expenses was facing JJJ Dynamics (Sun Valley, Calif.)

JJJ Dynamics subcontracts for the So. Calif. Aerospace community specializing in five axis machining procedures. An effective and yet relatively inexpensive solution was provided by Cox's firm to his client with a solution in the form of a robotic system which allows Haas Vertical Machines to operate for lengthy periods of time performing machining functions while unattended and under robotic control.

A major component of this custom system is the automatically controlled lifting platform. The exact movement of this platform is controlled by a series of infra-red sensors. This serves to elevate the needed part into the effective range of a parts gripper. The elevator provides access to stacks of parts at indexed locations on the bed of the elevating platform. A lower level of parts are raised into the proximity of the robot arm when the prior level has been depleted. Dozens or even hundreds of parts may be arrayed for machining via this method and batches continually have run unattended for extended durations of time with complete success. This is effected in a uniform and recurrent manner.

Jaws descend with a machine control directed parts gripper to a preprogrammed position. These coordinates are variable and can be dedicated to any of a series of differently dimensioned parts via the use of machine tool macros.

The grasping jaws of the parts gripper are appropriately pre-shaped to the contour of the part. The jaws are simple to construct from any variety of plastic or metal materials.

The parts gripper delivers the part to a specially designed milling fixture. Upon completion of machining, the gripper retrieves the finished part. Then the finished part is positioned by the gripper to a location where a robotic arm can retrieve it. After it is automatically released from the gripper, the recovered part is then placed onto the tray of a custom-designed conveying system, which has been, for a brief and controlled interval, extended robotically into the proximity of the finished part. After the conveyor tray withdraws from the milling area the part can be distributed automatically into a holding bin or left on the tray to await further procedures.

The net result of the installation of this robotic system at "JJJ" has been a four-fold increase in productivity without the necessity of bringing any more employees on line.

This thorough resolution of the needs of JJJ Dynamics was accomplished at a cost outlay far less than had first been anticipated. Cox's provided initial consultation, equipment design and installation, macro programming and personnel training for the complete installation.

To contact "Ottoman" for more information concerning robotic solutions to manufacturing challenges circle---------

Contact Ottoman