When designing and building automated assembly machines, the first thing a business needs to do is to determine the system's complete requirements. The intricacies and nuances of different machines are defined when building systems to meet exact needs. There are important design considerations when approaching the creating of a continuous motion assembly machine. Below, we want to highlight some of the most important design considerations.
Automated Assembly Machines
Do You Need a Modular Design? The rule of thumb is that as the number of separate assemblies increases, so does the system's downtime. Creating a modular product design, where each module needs twelve or more parts, can be constructed on a single continuous motion assembly machine. It also helps to create subassemblies around the base part (where other components are added).
How do You Limit the Required Directions of Access? In other words, this principle means that the amount of directions (new components added to existing assembly) needs to be minimized. An ideal solution is to try and add all components vertically.
What is Implement Hopperability? This term refers to the ease at which a given component can be oriented and fed reliably. The delivery system moves from the parts hopper to the assembly workhead.
How do You Reduce the Requirement for Multiple Components to be Handled at One Time? The most common solution for continuous motion assembly machines is to figure out how to breakdown operations at different stations. It is common to find assembly machines handling multiple components simultaneously at a single station. New robotic technologies are making it possible to perform complex assembly tasks at a single station.
Related Reading
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- What can Automated Assembly Machines do for Your Business