Machine tending in the modern age

Abstract

Machine tending is the oldest of applications for the Industrial Robot, and is even more economically beneficial today than it was in 1960 when the first robot was installed at a die casting machine. Robots now serve many more types of machines and a number of recent applications are described. These include injection moulding machines, machining centres, CNC lathes, cylindrical grinders and press brakes. All these cases identify the key benefit of “lights out” operation. However, the absence of operators brings the problems of unscheduled stoppages going undetected until “the day shift arrives”. One answer discussed is remote monitoring by tele‐linking the machine to a control centre. Finally, a case study is described of a polishing cell for stainless steel sanitary and catering equipment in which the robots handle the parts as well as manipulate the polishing tools.