Contract Manufacturing Automation Solutions at Blackhawk Engineering
319-266-2681
Automated Processing System for Clutch Drums
- BHE’s next step into the world of automation comes in the form of a Fanuc R-1000 robot running in series with a Doosan 9-axis dual spindle lathe, a Doosan 400mm horizontal mill, laser engraver, which is all being supplied by inbound, outbound and reject conveyors.
- This integration allows us to run multiple part numbers 24 hours a day with minimal operator involvement.
- On a part that required roughly 48-man hours per day to fulfill our customers daily requirements, has now been reduced to only 8 hours per day.
- This cell not only allowed us to sure up consistent on time delivers for our customer, but also reduced our customers cost in this part by over 50%.
- BHE is committed to taking the steps necessary to push for manufacturing excellence and investing in the latest automated technology that separates us from our competitors is another step in that direction.
In this process, the Drum Cell picks up a part from an inbound conveyor and presents it to a camera for orientation. The part is then placed in the first stop—a two-off machine—for further processing. If the part is not oriented correctly, there will be an error. The second-off, which is connected to the first-off, utilizes a spindle to collect the clutch drum.
The robot then picks up a second clutch drum and places it in the first-off machine, where mill and lathe operations run to create features on the clutch drums. Due to certain features not being able to be created simultaneously, these are carried out in a sequential manner.
Finally, after creating the features, the robot picks up the clutch drum in the second-off machine and loads it into the adjacent mill, reorienting it. Once the mill has finished processing the clutch drum, the robot presents it to a laser for processing. The robot lays the processed clutch drum on an outgoing conveyor. In this way, 15 to 18 finished clutch drums can be accommodated before operations come to a stop.
Reach out to us today if you would like to receive a quote and take advantage of our advanced automated processing systems.
Maximizing Efficiency with Advanced Automation Technologies
Noting the efficiency that automation technologies have in lathe tending robots and the Drum Cell, we have been able to bring a new level of efficiency to contract manufacturing. We feel our experience will prove that the Halter robot with the load assistant can significantly enhance operational efficiency by effectively minimizing operator effectiveness and load accuracy, thereby eliminating a great deal of scrap.
Installing the Halter robot with load assistant has allowed BHE to become less dependent on operator efficiency and loading accuracy, which in turn reduces our potential for scrap and allows us to consistently meet our customer’s demands. In a time when labor costs are high and manpower is in short supply, the Halter robot helps us decrease our downtime and increase our overall competitiveness in the machined castings market.
Depending on the size of the part being run, this robot can hold up to 18 raw or completed parts giving us several hours of unattended machine-up time before parts need to be reloaded. In this setup and within this timeframe an operator can easily run a whole additional cell without ever needing to tend to his or her lathe.
Contact us today to request a quote or ask any questions you may have about our Halter robot.
Revolutionizing Contract Manufacturing with Automation
At Blackhawk Engineering, our professional pride is in bringing highly advanced, state-of-the-art automation solutions into the contract manufacturing environment. We have successfully integrated the latest technologies into extending our production capabilities, better positioning us to be more competitive in today’s marketplace
Commitment to Excellence in Contract Manufacturing
Blackhawk Engineering’s steadfast commitment to embracing manufacturing excellence through the adoption of innovative automated technologies sets us apart in the contract manufacturing industry. By continually investing in state-of-the-art automation solutions, we aim to break boundaries and pioneer transformative changes within the contract manufacturing landscape.
Embrace the Future of Contract Manufacturing with Blackhawk Engineering
We extend an invitation to partners and industry professionals to join us in embracing the future of contract manufacturing through our innovative automation solutions. Contact us today to explore how our advanced automation technologies can elevate your contract manufacturing operations to a new level of unprecedented efficiency and success.