F004: First Robotics Projects: How to Get it Right

In today’s business climate, automation isn’t a luxury, it is a necessity. The skilled operators that are needed in order get the most output from your CNC equipment are very hard to find, and the problem is only getting worse. Many companies are turning to robotic automation for the first time but “getting it right” isn’t as simple as purchasing a robot and bolting a robot to your floor.

This session will review the reasons behind the need to automate and why this won’t be changing anytime soon. A few of the most common levels of automation (robot only, pre-engineered solution and full turn-key) will be compared & contrasted. Finally, a pair of case studies describing the implementation and benefits of the first robotic systems with existing CNC equipment will be reviewed.

In order to stay competitive in today’s market, small and medium enterprises (SME’s) are increasingly turning to automation to address the complex challenges they are facing. While labor shortages have been a major component of the shift towards automation, other factors such as competitive pressures, consistency in manufacturing, and the desire to innovate have pushed many companies to evolve their approach towards technology implementation. Due to limited resources, however, it is critical that SME’s have a clear path in mind when it comes to automation, especially the first introduction of automation, on their shop floors to ensure success and long-term sustainability. This presentation will walk through an approach to implementing automation in SME’s, analyzing the existing / future states of manufacturing, designing and prototyping systems, and training prior to implementation in an effort to create flexible solutions across a variety of applications.