Advertising in MoldMaking Technology offers
Issue link: https://mmt.epubxp.com/i/544238
20 MoldMaking Technology August 2015 Pellet 2 Part (P2P) 1 2 3 4 5 7 6 8 Images courtesy of KraussMaffei. H 2 O By Rich Oles and Jason Holbrook This series of articles provides an explanation of each step in the mold- ing process, as a pellet is transformed into a part. This article will focus on opening of the mold, the ejection of the part and the automation involved, whether the parts are dropped, vacuumed or picked out of the mold. The molder's robotic capabilities, combined with the end-of-arm tooling (EOAT), directly impact mold design, cycle time and cost. Here, we will review using a robot to pick the part out of the mold. One of the goals of every project is to get all parties involved communicating and working together to engineer the best plan. In addition to the many other benefits, this ensures that the correct automation equipment is purchased. There are many types of robots. Two industry standards are linear and articulated. Linear robots are typically less expensive, enable faster part removal from the mold and are easier to program. However, they offer less articulation of the part and are less useful for post-molding. Because linear robots move in a linear fashion, they are often restricted to an X, Y or Z plane, and do not provide freedom of positions similar to a human arm. Linear robots can be installed on the operator or non-operator side of the press or at the end of the press (L mount). Articulated robots are multifunctional, more useful for post- molding and can be configured for tight spaces because of their human-arm-like flexibility. They are typically mounted on the floor beside the machine or on the machine-fixed platen. For example, in post-molding applications, such as assembly or packaging, articulated robots allow orbital positioning that is customized to the position that the part needs to be in to execute the operation. However, these robots require more room and are often more difficult to program because of these orbital positions. They are also typically more expensive and offer slower removal of parts from the mold. Considerations for Assessing Robotics Requirements Knowledge of part de-molding, end-of- arm tooling construction, part defects caused by the mold-robot interface and available automation options is key for suppliers looking to add greater value. This article reviews how capabilities of a linear robot such as this one impact mold design, cycle time and cost. VIDEO Access video at end of article. EOAT is another important factor. Oftentimes, molders select the least expensive EOAT configuration, which can yield an inaccurate design that is unable to maintain the tolerances necessary to operate within the process allowances. Wrist motions are another robotic consideration. Traditionally,