An Automated machine consists of a transfer device and one or more work stations. The work station will perform specific operations and can be designed to encompass all facets of automated assembly. When possible, standard work stations will be interfaced with the machine to perform various functions such as testing, gauging, forming, riveting and welding.

Our experience and flexibility allows us to offer a variety of different machine transfer units, including: rotary, in-line walking beam, non-synchronous, x-y positioning, high speed continuous motion, single station shuttle, over and under, and others.

FLOW TYPE:

ROTARY INDEX

  • For most small to medium sized products or sub assemblies.
  • Capable of high production rates.
  • Fully mechanical motions employed where possible ­ all functions timed and electrically interlocked.
  • Both vertical and horizontal work stations arranged about the periphery.

ADVANTAGES

  • Simplest form of multi-station machine.
  • Uses a minimum of floor space.
  • High accessibility to machine

IN-LINE WALKING BEAM

  • Greatest machine utilization ­ total system performance.
  • Parts may be palletized, fixed, or individually transferred.
  • Lends itself to efficient loading of component parts and subassemblies conveyed from off-line auxiliary equipment for final assembly.
  • Basic work stations and standard machine components ­ custom tailored to suit specific assembly requirements.
  • Modular work stations may be added by plan or simply as the need arises, after the machine has been in production.

ADVANTAGES

  • Virtually unlimited number of work stations.
  • Efficient use of floor space.
  • Accessibility
  • Ease of maintenance.
  • Quick tooling change-over.

NON-SYNCHRONOUS TRANSFER

  • Flexible.
  • Individual pallet transport the work along a closed-loop system of independent operating stations (or modules).
  • Stations operate only on demand ­ when the pallet enters the station and initiates the cycle.
  • Manual and automatic stations may be intermixed as required.
  • Module work stations may be added or deleted without regard to positive index or fixed transfer dimensions on either side of carrier.

ADVANTAGES

  • Virtually unlimited number of work stations. Same as in-line Walking Beam plus the Following:
  • Greatest overall efficiency for machines requiring a large amount of work stations.
  • Banks of parts may be accumulated between work stations during brief station stoppages.
  • Work can be removed for manual assembly or inspection and returned to system.

X-Y POSITIONING

  • Used principally for printed circuit-board placement and connector-pin insertion.
  • Consists of a multi-coordinate positioning table, work station, and insertion head.
  • Programmable controller used for storage of predetermined coordinates and sequencing.

ADVANTAGES

  • Accurate, repetitive, high speed positioning.
  • Software is designed to facilitate simple method of program changes and modifications as needed.
  • Infinite number of pattern positioning.
  • Simple setup and product change-over.