BLUF, we are going to set up a robotic cell without a professional integrator. Not going to pay $$$. Going to learn as we go. We'll buy the hardware/software but its going to be google and youtube for the most part.
Has anyone here ever implemented a production cell with a CNC, CMM, and a robot? Either professionally or own their own? I know there are professional integrators out there but we are more like do it ourselves kind of company. I don't like the idea of reinventing the wheel but its not up to me. Even more so due to the state of the economy and industry.
We purchased a turn key application with a universal robot and laser etcher from a integrator. Robot would grab raw materials and position it under a laser etcher, then from the laser etcher to a pallet. Worked out well. We also learned very little. A guy got a few hours crash course on the robot. Owner wasn't pleased with the overall cost and how little info there was to share. I idea was to pay for this and gain a wealth of knowledge to do more projects on our own. We are lacking in the knowledge department.
He wants us to start a small scale project specifically using a UR. I have a work station that makes only 1 part. Its small, about 2 inches round, total of 5 dimensions, and high volume. CNC is a lathe and part goes in as a bar and is completely machined when done. Going to try and implement a robot for machine and cmm tending and automatic machine offsets from CMM to CNC. Eventually lights out, email or text notification for issues, full process control, etc...
Talking to my sales rep, I need to have an automation controller. Some of my cmms can be upgraded here onsite but my 454s would have to be sent back to the factory.
How do you send measurement feedback to a CNC? I currently send measurement data to a .csv file on our network. Could I set up my CNC to read the .csv for tool offsets? Would that be considered communication? Do I absolutely need to have a specific software.
I suppose I would need a master controller or system monitor to queue when its safe to move the robot or operate the CMM. Is there a specific software out there to use? I think I've read on the forum where some users created their own font end application/user interface. So something needs to control when to start and stop the CNC, start and stop the robot, and start the CMM.
Any ideas, good/bad experiences, mistakes, pitfalls, horror stories are welcome. If this is accomplished, I will gladly share the steps I did to achieve this.
