Robot SystemProductivity improvement

Solution Using a Robot Simulator

Confirming safety and shortening delivery times during the design stage of robot system construction

Industry
Manufacturing industry
Solutions
Productivity improvement
System
Robot System

Outline of the Case

Customer
Home appliance manufacturer (air conditioners)
Introduction Background

Company J in the Chubu region was considering using robots to automate the process of setting and removing workpieces in press machines, which had been done manually up until then.

Since the task of taking the processed workpieces, bending them, and putting them in finished product boxes would still be done manually, it was necessary that the robots would have high-level safety functions that would enable them to work together with the workers.

In addition, since a person still does the final press and workers may enter for maintenance on the press machines, they wanted to avoid installing safety fences if possible.

They also wanted the above done in a short time, so it was necessary to stay on the same page as the customer in order to prevent having to backtrack for issues such as process delays due to design mistakes.

< Customer requests >
・ Conventionally, 2-3 workers are required, but since the work to be done was very simple, they wanted to reduce the manual labor involved as much as possible.
・ Although they also considered production robots, the final press must be done manually, and they wanted to avoid installing safety fences.
・ They wanted to make effective use of space by putting the robots on movable trolleys because people enter occasionally to do maintenance, etc. on the press machines.

 

Introduced Solutions
  • They utilize the all-purpose robot simulator RoboDK starting at the design stage.
  • They import press machines and stands reproduced with random CAD software into RoboDK.
  • They use virtual simulation at the design and concept stages, before entering the manufacturing phase.

In order to meet this customer’s needs and finish in a short time, we needed to prevent backtracking for issues such as process delays due to design mistakes. To do this, we used RoboDK, a simulation software from Canada developed by a company for which we work as a distributor.

By using RoboDK, they can reproduce robots and their peripheral equipment in the virtual space on the computer, check the reach and cycle time of robots, and check for interference from peripheral equipment and workers from the design and concept stages.

In addition, in processes where humans and robots collaborate, it is very important to carry out risk assessment in advance. Especially in this case, since humans perform tasks, such as setting materials and taking out finished products, it is necessary to be aware in advance if there is risk of contact with the robots or getting caught in the equipment.

RoboDK is very effective for that purpose as well.

Introduction Results
  1. ● By using RoboDK, workers became able to reproduce the robots and their peripheral devices in the virtual space on the computer, check the reach and cycle time of robots, and check for interference from peripheral equipment and workers from the design and concept stages.
  2. ● By confirming collision points via simulations from the design stage, it became possible to put out extremely safe robot systems in short periods of time.
Products and Services Used
  • RoboDK

  • WHAT

  • Total

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