Adjusting Robotic Parameters Can Optimize Automation in Manufacturing -

Details for Adjusting Robotic Parameters Can Optimize Automation in Manufacturing

ID:	10090
Author:	johnfranklin
Title:	Adjusting Robotic Parameters Can Optimize Automation in Manufacturing
Article:	Adjusting robotic parameters can optimize automation in manufacturing and help reduce costs of production. There are a lot of adjustments that can be made to a production line that has been automated to improve the production throughput of the line. A manufacturer should optimize the individual workstation robotics to get the maximum gain for the minimum of effort. By making these adjustments a company will also increase the profit that is generated by the production line and improve the availability of products that are delivered from the end of the line. Optimization usually can be maximized by tuning the slightest positions, movements, locations, and efforts of the automation equipment. In order for full optimization of automation in manufacturing to be achieved all the other impacts of a production line must be reviewed to make sure that efficient work is done by all stations and no particular work is interfering with the efficiency of other work stations. Normally a company would go through the process of optimizing a production line as soon as the automation is installed. However, there may be some slight adjustments that can be done after a certain period of production that can milk even more efficiency from the processes. A track record of rate of production can be a basis for adjusting the actions of the line for maximum output. To optimize overall robot precision when automation in manufacturing is being implemented, it is important to set the payload constraints at their optimum. These include moment of inertia, mass, armload, and center of gravity. Having the payload constraints optimized correctly will also help to optimize all the required movements of the robot. Precision of starts and stops will optimize the cycle time and the work done by the robotic. Speed of movement is critical for getting the correct cycle time. If a robotic is moving too fast when going from one required position to another, it becomes inefficient in slowing down at the correct pace. The speed of movement from one point to the next should be set so that the robotic can accelerate to an optimum, but be able to decelerate at an optimum rate also. A robotic should move along a curved path from one point to another for maximum efficiency. By setting the path of the robot to be a curved configuration, there is less acceleration required to move from one point to another. There is also less deceleration required to bring the robot to a stop at the next required work point. Another way to increase the line throughput and optimize automation in manufacturing is to reduce the time that a robotic has to pause by starting outputs when the robot is moving. Beginning the output can eliminate any pause before the next step of the work process begins. Provided that the time lag is sufficient for the output to not interfere with the previous step in the cycle, this can be a good way to reduce some of the cycle time at this work station. The timing of clamp opening and closing in a material handling application can also be a place to save on cycle time and improve automation in manufacturing. Rather than using timers to determine when to open and close clamps, it is possible to use switches with the clamps to verify that the state of the clamp is as it should be, open or closed. This will give eliminate the delay time waiting for the timer to end its cycle before moving to the next step in production. Cycle time can be reduced by sending commands ahead before the robotic device is ready to receive them. This will optimize automation in manufacturing and can cut down on the lag time that is created when the robot stops to get its instruction after moving. For instance, a request for reposition of the robot can be sent to the device while the device is in motion. This will eliminate the waiting time when the robot needs to receive the instruction. Clamps that handle tooling can be instructed to open when the robot is available. This will reduce the lag time for instruction receipt. If a work station has more than one robot that is required to coordinate in the work of a single work station, it is necessary to make sure that all robots are sequenced correctly to optimize cycle time. The arrangement of interference zones to reduce possible contact and to minimize the time that robots must wait on each other is critical. The best optimization would be for no robots to pause at all to get the least amount of cycle time at the work station. Welding operations with automation can be optimized by closing and opening the welding gun while the gun is moving to its next point of work. Performing these operation will also reduce the cycle time at the station and optimize automation in manufacturing. These operations are setup by adjusting the system variables until an optimum is reached. Servo gun operation can be optimized by keeping the gun opening almost closed until it reaches the welding location. This will cut the time required to close the welding gun when it reaches the welding spot. About the author of this article: john mitchell is president of provision, inc, an online publisher of information about the uses of automation in business. the company website, http://www.provinc.net, allows companies to evaluate how to optimize automation requests for quotes can be submitted to automation specialists
Category:	Business: Ask-an-Expert
Date:	November 14, 2010 12:03:00 AM

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