Many metal component manufacturers are faced today with high production variability, machine loads and, above all, little space in their production facilities. During the competition, we will present an example of a solution consisting in a simple robotic workstation capable of self-calibrating with the machine position and starting work without any additional activities involved. In practice, it offers the possibility of rotating the workstation between machines depending on current production needs.

The operation of various types of presses is a common issue in the industry. In this workstation, we present solutions that aim to facilitate the implementation and generation of bending programmes for a robot working at a bending brake. The use of a robot in such a process, first and foremost, stabilises the production process, avoiding downtime due to interruptions or irregular work.

Achieving the right product quality is crucial for sales in many companies. It can be achieved today in a variety of ways – from manual machining to advanced robotic systems that generate the machining trajectory using AI.  At the workstation, we present an intermediate solution that demonstrates the idea of trajectory design based on the Roboguide software.

A process invariably associated with CNC machines. Fortunately, FANUC robots are developed precisely on the basis of CNC technology. If it were to be combined with the high rigidity of the arm, additional feedback from the position of the joints, and state-of-the-art CAM software, for many processes we would obtain quality levels similar to those of CNC machines but with incomparably greater flexibility and versatility. During the competition, Solid Expert, in cooperation with FANUC, will present a robotic alternative to classic CNC milling machines.

The dynamics of changes in packaging sizes and palletisation patterns or mixes are often very difficult to predict. If it is combined with very limited space, the classic approach to robotic palletisation often makes the use of a robot impossible. Having said that, thanks to collaborative robots and modern features, manufacturers are gaining completely new opportunities. We will present an example of the use of the largest collaborative robot in the CRX series in combination with built-in palletising and depalletising features in an application that is almost ready to be employed in the food industry or cosmetics production.

The process of robotised welding has until now been associated mainly with the high-volume production of precisely replicated pieces. Current solutions allow very flexible adaptation of machinery to the requirements of the pieces being welded, even in the case of small series and problems with positioning accuracy or edge preparation. The use of a vision-based system for real-time detection and tracking of the welded joint during welding effectively addresses such problems. Combined with the latest welding process methodology and fume extraction, it provides a very compact and flexible solution ready for a variety of challenging applications.