ATM Automation applies standard module principle to automotive parts

The main elements of the first machine are a Scara robot, which is easily re-programmable, a four-position rotary indexing unit, designed with quick-change fixture locations and a vibratory bowl feeder, which also has quick change tooling elements to enable it to feed parts that may be a different length or diameter. The machine currently feeds steel pins that are in turn transferred to a press station by the robot. Once inserted into a moulding, a 10 kg push-out test is applied to each of eight pins and the results are recorded. The machine has been configured in this way to allow it to be easily adapted to the next generation of parts. Although these are likely to be of a similar sort, they could potentially be a different shape or size and may require a different number of pins. A second machine is used for further assembly operations before performing a combination of flow and leak tests on the finished parts. This machine uses the same design principles as the first, with all of the elements configured for simple and quick changeover to accommodate new part types. ATM Automation supplies Cartesian robot systems, plastics joining technologies, gripper and tooling systems and complete assembly systems. Fixtures used are based upon simple location pins and tooling blocks rather than being cast or machined from solid. This not only reduces costs but also makes it much quicker and easier for the end-user to configure the machine for different part types. Vacuum sensing is used to check for part presence, as an alternative to conventional proximity sensors and all of the high value elements of the machine are integrated so that they can always be re-used with little or no modification, says ATM.