Page 41 - Metalforming Magazine April 2022

dia. bar stock cut to length. The feeder presents the blanks in a programmed position to allow the cobot to grab it consistently. The cobot then places the blank in the press and, once the cobot arm clears the die space, its controller signals the press to close—one hit per part to flatten the handle ends. The stamped parts then move to a second- ary operation for hole punching.
“The operator that used to tend this press is more than happy to no longer have to feed blanks and remove parts from the press,” says Figueroa. “Instead, he loads blanks into the bar-feed mag- azine, then can step away help out in packaging or elsewhere in the plant. And, from management’s perspective, we’re happy to offer operators training on the cobots to add to their skill sets and knowledge base.
“Automation and robotics are the future,” he adds. “It’s happening, and we want to prepare our workforce.”
Production-Data Dashboard
In addition to the equipment and integration, Formic also provided Figueroa and other managers at Polar with an online dashboard accessible from a laptop, tablet or smartphone to monitor production of the cobot- tended press. And, once the cobot proved its ability to work reliably, Polar decided to add a second Formic-fund- ed cobot, this one to tend a resistance- welding machine.
“We believe that this second cobot will cost us about $11/hr.,” Figueroa says, “supporting a spot-welding machine used to fabricate hinge brack- ets. The cobot loads a turntable fixture with 10 assemblies.”
With each of its cobot cells, after running them for 4 yr. Polar has the option to purchase them from Formic.
“By then,” says Figueroa, “we’ll be well-versed in programming and main- taining the equipment, and at adapting the cobots for additional jobs. Until then we can take advantage of the expertise provided by Formic and DesignHawk. We’ve been able to go from zero to fully automated on two high-volume jobs, painlessly.” MF
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