Product category:
Machine Building Components
News Release from: Action Feed Systems | Subject: Automation services
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 20 December 2002
Buckle assembly system is a snap
Action Feed Systems is leaning toward 'small automation' as a logical addition to its part feeding design and fabrication activity.
The first week of December 2002 saw the run-off, approval and shipment of a small automated station designed to feed and assemble a two-piece plastic buckle assembly for a manufacturer in the metro Milwaukee (Wisconsin) area At customer request, this system was a 'technological throw-back', trading PLC controls for timers and relays
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 6 May 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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The simplification of automated systems has become a more requested option as small to medium sized manufacturers look to keep costs down and maintenance as simple as possible.
Of course, PLC control offers much in the way of adaptability for future changes on the equipment.
Still, on a dedicated system like this, all of the customer goals were successfully achieved using 'old technology'.
The system consists of two vibratory feeder bowls designed to feed the 'male' and 'female' half of the buckle assembly, two gravity tracks (stainless steel, with lexan covers), machined stainless steel guide tooling and Delrin receiving nest and insertion tooling.
Also included were variable speed controls for each bowl with fibre optics for full gravity track shut-off ('on demand' bowl operation), and stainless steel and Lexan guarding with integrated safety stop.
This machine currently snaps together 20 assemblies per minute, which will supply sufficient quantities of this style of buckle for the current production schedule.
The manufacturer was well pleased with the outcome of this project.
In fact the next machine on the schedule for Action Feed Systems may be a retrofit for a slightly different buckle style to run on the very same machine base.
As so many manufacturers want to speed up production, increase quality, reduce repetitive injury risks and generally become more efficient, Action Feed Systems is currently leaning toward 'small automation' as a logical addition to its part feeding design and fabrication activity.
In an extremely competitive market, automation is the key to reaching productivity goals.
In fact, many manufacturers would simply have been driven out of their markets by cheaper imports, had it not been for the productivity gains afforded by the of automating manufacturing processes.
The choice to automate should then be - (pardon the pun) - a snap.
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