Small Parts Assembly Automation – “No Part Too Small”
When approaching the automation of a system, there are many factors to take into consideration. These factors include product in-feed, product out-feed, cycle rate, quality inspection, and, as important as the technical specifications, a shared definition of success.
When you move into small parts assembly automation, another level of complexity is typically added to the equation due to challenges on the in-feed side. Traditionally, the infeed of parts into an automation cell is done with products like a bowl feeder. Bowl feeders have allowed many successful automation solutions to be deployed but have limitations, including changeover (each bowl feeder is designed for a specific part), a high investment that can’t be easily re-purposed, difficulty handling delicate material, and jamming & part re-circulation.
There are applications where a vibratory bowl feeder is the right infeed solution. We have found these applications to be purpose-built automation cells handling limited parts with high volumes at high speeds.
Finding the Right Micro-Automation Solution
At Sure Controls, we want to offer our customers the best solution for their small parts application requirements. This leads to where we prefer leveraging technologies from companies like Asyril to integrate their 3-axis vibration “Asycube” flexible part-feeding solutions into robotic automation cells.
With a wide range of flexible part-feeding solutions, our robotic integration designers can help customers automate in areas where it may not have been economically or technically feasible in the past. With the integration of flexible part feeders, we have successfully provided systems in the electronics, medical, automotive, and plastics industries. In each of these markets, we introduced a technology that allowed the customer to improve the automation cell or entirely rethink how they could automate at a lower volume allowing them to secure business they may not have previously been securing.
At Sure Controls, we are committed to delivering smiles, which is how we define success when providing a solution to our customers. You may be asking: “What does that mean?” That means that we measure our success on whether a customer is smiling at the end of a solution we provide. As this relates to micro-automation, our customers have been nothing but satisfied! Our small parts assembly automation solutions have delivered:
Lower Overall Investment
Complete cells can be repurposed with simple, cost-effective End Of Arm Tooling (EOAT) changes and recipe changes. There is no need to purchase new capital (part feeder) to run different parts.
Added Flexibility
One cell can handle multiple parts, which means one customer can run 100+ part numbers on the same cell.
Quick Change Over
Custom trays can be designed to nest parts with a changeover in minutes vs. hours.
Automation Where Not Previously Possible
With our small parts assembly automation solutions, we have delivered part orientation for assembly with vision-guided picking and spring detangling.
Reduced Manufacturing Real Estate
On average, we have reduced manufacturing real estate by 30% to 50% with our micro-automation solutions.
Please do not hesitate to contact us about micro-automation. We are always looking forward to learning about your application requirements and how we may be able to put a smile on your face the next time you think of automating.
