Product category:
Polishing, buffing and surface texturing
News Release from: KUKA Automation + Robotics | Subject: Robot polishing system
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 12 January 2005
Robot eliminates hand polishing of wing
panels
Eliminating the need for hand polishing, a robot is being used to polish aircraft wing access panels, to remove machining marks, in batches of up to 48 access panels of 12 different sizes.
Eliminating the need for hand polishing, a robot is being used to polish aircraft wing access panels, in batches of up to 48 access panels of 12 different sizes A KUKA robot is being used to polish aircraft wing access panels at Airbus UKs wing design and manufacturing facility at Filton, near Bristol
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 22 Dec 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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KUKA Automation + Robotics, based in Halesowen, was chosen ahead of seven other companies to supply the robot, which is the first to be introduced within this production facility.
The Robo Finish KR60 loads and polishes batches of up to 48 access panels of 12 different sizes, eliminating the need for hand polishing.
The panels are polished to remove patterns left by cutting tools.
The versatile robot, part of a self-contained finishing cell within the Filton integrated machining facility, is equipped with an automatic tool change capability, allowing it to process the different panel types.
After the operator loads a trolley of unprocessed access panels, the robot selects a new pad for the polishing spindle, picks up a panel from the trolley, polishes the component and then transfers it to an outgoing trolley.
Project leader Steve Corbett said the KUKA robot had successfully demonstrated the feasibility of this robotic technology at Filton and achieved productivity savings within the machining facility.
"Even more importantly, from a health and safety perspective, this system eliminates any exposure to vibration white finger", he added.
Other work packages are now being considered for robotic polishing including the deburring of the fixed shroud on Airbus wings.
"This project demonstrates how an off-the-shelf robot can easily be adapted to perform a wide variety of applications in virtually any industry, helping to improve not only productivity but also health and safety considerations", explained Brett Green, general sales manager of KUKA Automation + Robotics. Request a free brochure from KUKA Automation + Robotics ...
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