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![Ruland Manufacturing faucets Flexxbotics for robotic machine tending Ruland Manufacturing faucets Flexxbotics for robotic machine tending](https://www.therobotreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Flexxbotics-Ruland-featured.jpg)
Ruland Manufacturing has chosen Flexxbotics FlexxCORE know-how for its robotic machine tending wants. | Source: Flexxbotics
Flexxbotics, which delivers workcell digitalization for robot-driven manufacturing, at this time introduced that Ruland Manufacturing Co. has chosen it to ship autonomous course of management in its FANUC RoboDrill workcells. The firms stated the venture’s objective is to realize “lights out” operations.
The machine-tending system from Flexxbotics permits Ruland’s collaborative robots from Universal Robots to speak immediately with its FANUC RoboDrill equipment and Renishaw inspection probes. The cobots join to those probes to examine the half after machining so it will possibly make modifications to account for device put on and different components, stated Flexxbotics.
With the FlexxCORE system, Ruland can obtain steady operation and better utilization, claimed the Boston-based firm. Flexxbotics added that it offers the flexibility to dynamically change jobs in workcells, lowering the changeover time from over an hour to only one minute.
“One of the challenges we’ve had with previous automation projects has been the complexity of the robot-to-machine interfacing, which Flexxbotics solves,” stated Dustin Vinci, engineering supervisor at Ruland Manufacturing, in a launch. “What’s great about the Flexxbotics solution is the complete coordination of our robots with our CNC machines and inspection equipment for direct feedback and autonomous adjustments, enabling 24/7 production.”
Why Ruland selected Flexxbotics
Founded in 1937, Ruland is a precision producer of high-performance shaft collars, inflexible couplings, and movement management couplings. These can be utilized for functions together with medical gadgets, robotics, machine instruments, semiconductors, meals, and packaging.
Ruland stated it determined to make use of Flexxbotics know-how for numerous causes. First, it offers in-line inspection for precision high quality, 100% half protection, and closed-loop optimization for uninterrupted manufacturing.
The firm additionally offers automated configuration and program loading of robots, CNC machines, and inspection gear for every job. The FlexxCORE system features a dynamic changeover course of for over 100 SKUs with solely three in-feed half presentation fixtures.
In addition, Flexxbotics stated it offers sensible workflows with contextualized step-by-step directions. These directions are primarily based on the CNC machine and robotic’s standing at failure for error decision. This means, technicians or operators know precisely what went incorrect.
Ruland was additionally within the firm’s open connectivity and interoperability between robots, CNC controllers, totally different inspection gear, and IT and enterprise methods. Finally, Flexxbotics stated it offers extensibility to quite a few workcell configurations, inspection applied sciences, and equipment varieties together with Haas and Brothers CNCs, together with varied shelling out machine choices.
“With Flexxbotics, we have achieved our 80% utilization goal for our FANUC RoboDrill cells in less than 90 days,” Vinci stated. “The optimization course of that Flexxbotics offers has been invaluable
FlexxCORE the ‘backbone’ of the sensible manufacturing unit
Flexxbotics’ workcell digitalization know-how delivers autonomous course of management for machining environments using robotics. The firm’s flagship product, the FlexxCORE know-how, connects and coordinates robots with current automation gear, IT methods, and folks.
“We understand the complexity involved in transitioning to next-generation machining operations and the necessity for advanced robotic machine tending,” said Tyler Bouchard, founder and CEO of Flexxbotics. “What we’re doing at Flexxbotics is enabling the world’s most sophisticated smart factory environments to embrace robot-driven manufacturing at scale.”
The firm just lately teamed up with Vention to launch a mixed machine-tending providing. The companions claimed that clients can now profit from the mixture of Flexxbotics’ system with Vention‘s MAP providing.
Customers can now use Vention’s cloud-robotic instruments and modular automation {hardware} to design customized workcells, whereas additionally making the most of Flexxbotics’ software-as-a-service/hybrid system.