Product category:
Workholding - miscellaneous clamping systems, components
News Release from: REM Systems | Subject: Robotic work handling - EDM
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 08 November 2005
Robots run EDM machines for toolmaker
A robotic system that loads two EDM machines is helping an Irish toolmakerto compete with low wage economies by running the machines unmanned at night and weekends.
Erowa's Robot Multi, loading two EDM machines, helps Smithstown compete with low wage economies by running machine tools at night and weekends Situated in Shannon on the west coast of Ireland, Smithstown Light Engineering has a reputation for high quality work in the toolmaking and subcontract machining fields
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 8 Nov 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
One hour set times are just a fading memory
Modular tooling system reduces one hour set-up times to 10 min at a subcontract machine shop specialising in castings for the servo motor industry.
Lightweight workholding cube dampens vibrations
Triag's 'Mineral Cube' looks like any other workholding system but weighs the same as a cubed piece of aluminum of the same size, yet has ten times the dampening effect of cast iron.
managing director, Brian King, has always realised that keeping one step ahead of your competitors, either at home or in low wage countries, is critical to maintaining a healthy business.
Using the latest technology with machine tools that can deliver the precision and quality required is important but high utilisation must be achieved to keep a downward pressure on production costs.
Smithstown's latest investment is an Erowa automation system for their EDM department.
The Erowa Robot Multi sits between two EDM centres and feeds both machines with workpiece pallets and electrodes.
Managing such a complex cell is of vital importance and Smithstown staff are aided by the Erowa Job Management system, JMSPro.
Jobs are prepared off-line before being loaded into the Robot.
Inductive ID chips on each pallet mean that the Robot can be chaotically loaded and the right electrodes run with the right workpiece every time.
One Erowa Robot now means that two EDM centres can be kept running around the clock with most of those hours being unmanned.
As King added: "This cell can provide us with in excess of 12,000 production hours per year with lower hourly costs and a means of competing in a tough global market.".
• REM Systems: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
