CASE
Automated changeover in record time: fittings production 4.0
15 minutes instead of four hours: The new production system at R. Nussbaum AG is capable of changeover in record time, and the cycle time also sets new standards. The tools are changed using robots, while our self-developed electric clamping device keeps retooling very short.
The challenge
For four generations, R. Nussbaum AG has been manufacturing and selling fittings and building technology systems in the sanitary and heating sectors. Countless water distributors and outlets are manufactured daily at the production site in Trimbach using milling and turning machines.
As part of a further development project, an ultra-modern and flexible production solution was sought: New shapes and new alloys required a new type of production concept on the one hand, while on the other hand the changeover time needed to be massively reduced: from four hours to a revolutionary 15 minutes.
The solution
A complete system with three FANUC robots and four FANUC Robodrill milling machines combines very short cycle times with exceptionally short changeover times. This is made possible by our self-developed clamping device, which automatically changes the milling tools thanks to servo motors and thus saves many seconds when changing parts. Sensitive gripping technology ensures the necessary precision.
Feeding supported by machine vision technology and our own control architecture contribute to the high performance. A menu-guided control system with a central HMI ensures ease of operation and supports networked production.
Setting values and process sequences are automatically adapted during production, which runs in 2-shift operation. Industry 4.0 interfaces connect the sub-applications. In this way, the production system enables our customer to be optimally equipped for the increasing demands of a dynamic market.
“This completely newly developed application combines milling machines with an electric clamping device, robots with sensitive gripper technology, vision processing for quality assurance and a dedicated control architecture - all from a single source.”
The project
Robotec Solutions has long-standing partnerships with both R. Nussbaum AG and FANUC. We were therefore able to make use of the FANUC milling and drive laboratory and jointly explore new, sometimes unorthodox approaches, which were extensively tested and refined. This resulted in a completely new, unique application. Among those involved from the Robotec team were Jörg Lanz (project management, design), Oliver Guggisberg (software programming) and Hans-Peter Meyer (on-site assembly, commissioning).
Jörg Lanz, Sales
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