Automated Robotic Metal Forming, Courtesy of Gamanche Systems

FANUC's Authorized System Integrator Gamanche has designed an automated mower deck forming system utilizing two FANUC R-2000iC robots operating a 1000 ton Bliss press and a 90 ton Cincinnati press. Sheet metal blanks are introduced via a pallet and picked by an R-2000iC using a squaring station for consistent part processing. The R-2000iC then loads the blank into a 1000 ton Bliss press for stamping. After the part has been stamped, the R-2000iC unloads the deck and scrap metal, dropping the scraps off on a pallet before placing the stamped part onto a table. The manual blanking press operation required an operator to reach into the press to lift and push the scrap metal into a scrap bin behind the press. A gantry then moves the stamped decks to an awaiting RTU mounted R-2000iC. The second R-2000iC picks the deck from a transfer station and places it into a squaring station for precise processing before beginning the forming process with a 90 ton Cincinnati Press. Once the R-2000iC has finished forming the deck, the robot places the deck into a "re-grip" station. The deck is then picked from the opposite side to place onto a cart for outbound delivery to robot weld cells. The manual operation was hard on the operators; even with lifting devices they had to twist and turn and walk a lot of steps every day to load and unload materials from the two different presses. This new automated system processes parts based on demand instead of making to stock (eliminates work in process inventory; Pull vs. Push). The Gamache Systems Advantage DESIGN. BUILD. INSTALL. SUPPORT Gamachesystems.com