PBC Linear and its automation venture Applied Cobotics were on display at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in McCormick Place, Chicago, from September 12th through 17th. This six-day event prides itself as the biggest manufacturing tradeshow in the Western Hemisphere with over 86,000 registrants. Held every two years, IMTS showcases the latest innovations in digital and traditional manufacturing, with more than 15,000 new machining technologies.
Through our booth relationships with MCM and Nachi Robotics Systems, tradeshow attendees could sample a range of actuators from PBC Linear, or check out automation tools like our Cobot Feeder from Applied Cobotics. Also in the MCM booth was their impressive Flexible Manufacturing System, which is a huge CNC automation machine. In fact, the machine that was exhibited at the MCM booth then travelled to PBC Linear where it is currently being installed in five stages as part of a massive company investment.
As IMTS has designated this year as the year of the cobot, it was fitting that our Cobot Feeder machines were accessible in two different booths. The Nachi booth featured the Cobot Feeder with the Nachi CZ10 6-axis cobot. This larger-sized cobot features a 10 kg payload and 1300 mm reach. Over at the MCM booth, our Cobot Feeder was auto-assisting the UR10e cobot. This popular model from Universal Robots boasts a 12.5 kg payload and 1300 mm extension.
Together, these demonstrations show the flexibility of the Cobot Feeder to synchronize with different types of collaborative robots. For small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), sidestepping the crippling labor shortage and achieving lights-out automation is now within reach. It’s no wonder that enthusiasm ran high at both booths. This can be seen in the video interviews and excerpts that follow.
On day three of the IMTS show, Jake Hall, also known as the Manufacturing Millennial, interviewed Beau Wileman of PBC Linear/Applied Cobotics about our Cobot Feeder. Within the friendly confines of the MCM booth, Jake and Beau briefly discussed the Cobot Feeder and how it has impacted production at the PBC Linear shop. Jake summed up the current state of manufacturing by reiterating the common issues plaguing manufacturers, Including how to increase productivity with current equipment with the goal of lights-out operation. Additional concerns include finding workers for any shift amidst the skilled labor crisis.
The Cobot Feeder, paired with a cobot, provides a great solution to all those issues previously stated. What Beau’s team learned during the implementation of Cobots was that these systems still needed consistent attention to avoid long periods of unproductive downtime. The Cobot Feeder allowed them to keep parts in front of the cobot, so production could continue all night or all weekend. Part of this unique solution includes multiple part trays stacked within a portable rack tower, providing a high-density and high-capacity arsenal of parts. Tray racks can then be moved to the next station for additional processes steps or finishing. This keeps the parts in a stable and safe environment throughout the entire parts production process.
Beau Wileman explains how the elevator system loads and unloads parts trays from the rack with precision. As the cobot completes its cycles, its signals the Cobot Feeder to store the tray of finished parts and grab another fresh one.
This machine utilizes a Universal Robot (UR10e model), which has a very easy interface to navigate. Also, the Cobot Feeder will work with any industrial robot as long as it has some basic input/outputs.
“This is our solution to keeping parts in front of the cobot for much longer periods of time.”
Aaron Kussmann of PBC Linear demonstrates the practical utility of the Cobot Feeder with a Nachi CZ10 6-axis cobot. When we first implemented cobots we started with a single tray of 20 or 30 parts. We developed the Cobot Feeder to run up to a thousand parts at once from custom molded tray inserts. In addition, we have added plenty of safety features which, along with the cobots, makes this a truly collaborative system.
The bottom line is that the Cobot Feeder is the automation tool that will help small- to medium-sized companies boost their robot/cobot production without significant increases in labor, and ultimately see a higher return on their investments.
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