Page 37 - MetalForming Magazine May 2023

In a destacking operation, automated guided vehicles from Handling Specialty lift and transport blanks in any capacity for press feeding, and can maneuver in tight spaces with zero-radius turning and crabbing—all without floor rails.
for production equipment such as stamping presses obviously can improve productivity while freeing manual labor for other tasks.
Of course, hiccups occur, perhaps in part material delivery and supply, in production or material handling equipment that breaks down for what- ever reasons, etc. All of this favors the manufacturer that plans for the unplanned. Fortunately, sensing, mon- itoring and analysis technology exists to streamline part and part-material handling, warn of possible bottlenecks, and provide possible solutions. Soft- ware ties all of this together. For exam- ple, Stratawise offers its StrataFlows automated visibility, communication and control software for various needs all along the supply chain, including real-time analysis of material handling operations in a manufacturing envi- ronment, as well as material inflow and outflow.
AGVs Arrive for Destacking and More
Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) promise lights-out operation to keep parts and material moving, with automation providing dependable, accurate placement and routing. These portable robots can be manufactured in any size to carry material, parts and products through a manufacturing plant, run on battery power and can be charged after each shift, according to officials from Handling Specialty, Grimsby, Ontario, Canada, which pro- vides AGVs and other material-han- dling solutions to industry. Following a predetermined path—and quickly
In this example of flexible autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) from FlexQube, robotic base units dock with motorized carriers as a “one robot/multi-carrier” concept, with a coupling device transfer- ring power and data to the motors to enable navigation throughout a plant. The modular and flexible carriers can reside where needed until transport via the AMR.
reprogrammed for a different path— AGVs can include specialized tooling for specific applications, including scis- sor lifts to position the product at a specific height in a workcell.
AGVs provide an ideal solution in the stamping industry for blank destacking, according to Handling Spe- cialty officials. They can be fitted with indexing tables tooled to fit any-sized blank, with increased no-rail maneu- verability beyond that offered by destacking vehicles that operate on rails.
For its part, Handling Specialty offers customized AGVs for lifting and transporting blanks in any capacity, and the ability to maneuver in tight spaces with zero-radius turning and crabbing. The AGVs follow a painted line or strip on the floor using an onboard laser-guidance system. For the safety of employees, equipment and material, these AGVs feature prox- imity sensors, limit switches, audible alarms and lights, all engineered in during the design stage. Intelligent con- trols are programmed to a user’s unique requirements and reportedly can be reconfigured should the factory floor change, without the expenses incurred with a traditional rail/cart system.
Flexible, Robot-Driven Carriers
The AGVs described above are part of a larger family of robotic vehicles designed to propel parts, products and material throughout the shop floor.
Within this family reside autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) with a twist. The twist: robotic base units that dock with motorized carriers, according to Flex- Qube, a Swedish material handling- products company with its U.S. base in Duncan, SC. This “one robot/multi- carrier” concept, as the company dubs it, consists of a non-load-carrying AMR housing safety, navigation and battery, which can dock with motorized carriers via a standard coupling device. The coupling device transfers power and data to the motors to enable navigation throughout a plant. Modular and flex- ible carriers are configured to specific part and material loads, and can reside where needed until transport via the AMR.
Smart Approaches Boost Equipment Life and Performance Detailed inspections lay the ground- work for how maintenance should be performed, according to Mike Proos, director of engineering for Prab, Kala- mazoo, MI, a provider of conveyors and other material handling and fluid- recycling technology. Combined with such inspections, automation helps keep everything on track. Given a his- tory of system data, software programs can notice irregularities in equipment behavior as they occur, allowing for
proactive response.
In addition, Proos explains in a blog
post, software plays a role in adapting equipment to changing environments. For example, should a conveyor that maxes out at, say, 65 ft./mi. be forced to convey payloads at or close to such speeds, expect a quicker breakdown. By measuring a conveyor’s throughput based on how fast it must run, software can regulate conveyor speed to match that of production. Such software adjustment of conveyor speed pays dividends in extended conveyor life and less unplanned downtime.
In sum, Proos offers this advice: By implementing data-driven mainte- nance, pinpoint inspections, and automation and software, organiza- tions stand a better chance of avoiding disruptions. MF
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