Robotic Machine Tending

Increase safety, accuracy and repeatability in your manufacturing operations with robotic machine tending

Machine tending can be grueling, dangerous and repetitive work. Fortunately, the very constraints that make these tasks difficult for humans make them a great fit for automation. Robotic machine tending systems are designed to reliably and accurately load and unload product from manufacturing machines around the clock, 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Automating manufacturing processes not only improves the quality and consistency of the finished product, but also improves safety while reducing errors and material waste. Automating these menial but vital tasks frees up your labor force for more valuable, engaging work and provides flexibility when dealing with labor availability challenges. Our solutions are capable of handling items as small as a dime and as large as a refrigerator, all delivered as turnkey, factory acceptance tested (FAT) systems. Whether you need a standard robotic system or custom-designed equipment, our engineers have the expertise to find a solution that meets your goals.

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How Robotic Machine Tending Works

Robotic machine tending can address complex manipulation and transportation of materials that goes beyond standard material handling processes. Managing these tasks with robots minimizes incorrect product placement due to human error and increases speed and efficiency of production. Our highly reliable robotic systems minimize interruptions for continuous, 24/7 operation.

In summary, robotic machine tending systems replace human intervention to pick up products from the supply position, transport it to a machine, place and orient it properly, operate the machine, then remove the finished piece and place it on the outfeed mechanism. Bastian Solutions’ engineers leverage data from your current system, your goals and their broad industry experience to design the ideal configuration for your specific environmental or product needs.

Benefits

Bastian Solutions can take on machine tending projects that are highly customized given the capabilities of our in-house design and manufacturing teams. Benefits of a machine tending system from Bastian Solutions include:

Repeatable accuracy improves quality of production (increase by +25%) while reducing material waste
Handles heavy, dangerous or otherwise unwieldy products improving employee ergonomics
Functions in operations unsuitable for human labor – extreme temperatures and corrosive, wet or dusty environments – with the addition of robotic suits
Shorter ROI and lower overhead cost compared to manual machine tending
Save valuable floor space by mounting robotic machines overhead
Manipulate heavier payloads with floor mounted robots
High uptime increases operational throughput

Applications

Machine tending robots can be used to automate a variety of manufacturing processes, including:

CNC milling or turning
Grinding
Injection or compression molding
Stamping, punching, trimming, , and forging presses
Electrical discharge machining (EDM)
Welding and etching
Raw or scrap material handling
Hazardous product handling
Deburring and flash removal
Quality control and inspection

Considerations

As you explore robotic machine tending solutions, our experts will explore a variety of considerations, including:

Products handled – dimensions, weight, variety
Product manipulation and degree of complexity or delicacy
Current production machines and processes
Current and desired throughput rate
EoAT (end of arm tools) customization needs
Infeed process and product placement
Pre- and post-production needs
Machine vision requirements
Robotic system and software integration needs
Environmental conditions that require specific robotic IP ratings or specialized protective robotic suit equipment
FAT (factory acceptance testing) ensures our solution meets your standards

Technologies & Specifications

Custom-designed EoAT built to meet product specifications
Manipulates products from 1 pound up to 1,764 pounds
Up to 5 machines tended at one time and up to 720 cycles per hour
3D or AI-powered vision system options available
Interlocks with machinery and safety system
Custom accessories available to handle additional processes such as vision inspection, barcode verification and product labeling
Preferred robotics partners include Fanuc, ABB, and Universal Robots