Robotic Workpiece Storage System for CNC Milling
Robotic 5-drawer workpiece storage system integrated with a CNC milling machine for automatic loading, unloading and return of machined parts.
Fabrit designed and built a robotic workpiece storage system integrated with a CNC milling machine. The system uses a 5-drawer magazine that allows the operator to load parts from one side while the robot accesses them automatically from the machining side.
The robot retrieves a workpiece from the storage system, loads it into the CNC milling machine and, after machining is completed, returns the finished part to the corresponding drawer.
Challenge
The customer required a solution that would automate workpiece handling between the storage area and the CNC milling machine while reducing operator involvement in repetitive loading and unloading operations.
An important design requirement was to provide clear separation between the operator loading area and the robotic working zone, while maintaining convenient access to the stored parts from both sides of the system.
Implemented solution
- Robotic workpiece storage system with 5 drawers.
- External drawers extending towards the operator.
- Internal drawers extending towards the robot.
- Pneumatic actuation of the internal drawers.
- Automatic workpiece pickup by the robot.
- Automatic loading of parts into the CNC milling machine.
- Automatic unloading after machining and return to the storage drawer.
- Integration of the storage system, robot and CNC machine.
- Guarded robotic working area.
Results
The implemented workstation automated workpiece handling between the storage system and the CNC milling machine, reducing operator involvement to loading and organising parts in the magazine.
The solution improved workstation organisation and ergonomics while providing a repeatable method of supplying workpieces to the machine and returning finished parts after machining.
Solution tailored to the process
5-drawer workpiece storage
Compact storage system with five levels for organised loading, buffering and return of workpieces before and after machining.
Dual-sided drawer access
The operator-side drawer extends towards the operator, while the internal drawer extends towards the robot, separating manual loading from the automated working area.
Robot and CNC machine integration
The robot automatically picks a workpiece from the storage system, loads it into the CNC milling machine and returns the finished part to the appropriate drawer after machining.
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