This four-page, four-color application guide was written for Schrader Bellows as an overview for production engineers to guide them in the best implementation of the MotionMate robot system. (Note: Other technical writing areas of expertise include: medicine, biology, psychology; see resume.)

COVER

Schrader Bellows MotionMate Applications Guide

(full bleed stop-motion shot of MotionMate robot system in operation)

INSIDE SPREAD

How to get started in robotics with MotionMate.

MotionMate® robots will handle your simple repetitive material handling tasks with ease. Transferring, loading, unloading. Simple applications, but good places to start freeing human skills for more productive use. And remember, MotionMate robots are more than value-added devices; they are efficient links between machines, and between machines and material supply sources. Efficiency that pays for itself with increased production.
   To get started in robotics, or to improve the productivity of your existing system:
1. Examine your operation and look for:

•     Repetitive part transfer such as off or onto a conveyor, between machines, and loading and unloading.
  
•    Difficult environments where a MotionMate could reach into hot or dangerous places more safely than a human operator, such as presses, casting ;molds, furnaces.
  
•    Ways to create work cells to link operations to eliminate the need to reorient, reload or handle in-process inventory.

The applications discussed below are based on just a few of the hundreds of MotionMate installations currently in operation nationwide. These MotionMate systems all paid for themselves in less than two years, some in less than six months.

(Fifteen three-color technical diagrams of MotionMate robot applications referred to in the text : simple work cells, secondary operations, loading and unloading, sorting, rotary table, press loading, double gripping)

Simple Work Cells
   Work is processed first by machine A and then by machine B. A MotionMate robot unloads machine A and transfers the part of machine B for the next operation. This linking of operations saves labor time and reduces in-process inventories. A complete work cell must also include a method for loading machine A and unloading machine B.
   An expanded work cell links machines A, B, and C utilizing two MotionMate robots.

Secondary Operations
   A plastic part could not be dropped after molding due to cosmetic requirements. MotionMate removes the part from the opened mold and places it in a trim die for flash removal. The finished part is then place on a conveyor with no scratches or mars.
   Secondary operations on die cast parts are other excellent applications for MotionMate. Heat quenching can be eliminated because, unlike a human hand, MotionMate's gripper can withstand high heat. The human operator is removed from a difficult environment, a savings in labor and productive man hours.
   A mobile cart can be used in this application for flexibility and easy parts changeovers.

Loading and Unloading
   Two MotionMate robots are used in this system to load and unload. By coordinating the motions of the two robots, the idle time of machine A was kept to under one second. The alternate path capability built into MotionMate's Commander module allows a variety of sensors to detect reject parts and place them in an alternate location.

Sorting
   This system sorts incoming parts into three categories, A, B, and C, based on the results of the testing equipment. The multiple stops on the MotionMate base and the communications linkage between the test equipment and MotionMate are examples of the kind of custom systems work than can significantly expand the capability of the basic MotionMate unit.

Rotary Table
   Rotary tables are used in many automated processes to bring parts to a variety of different work stations. In this application, MotionMate loads parts from a delivery track. Only lift and reach were required (no base rotation) for this loading operation. The unloading operation uses information from the operations performed on the parts to place in either "good" or "reject" bins.

Press Loading
   A punch press was used in this application to assemble two parts used to form a wheel for office furniture. Even though the parts supply was fed from a hand-load magazine, the MotionMate system tripled output because requirements for human operator shielding and safety harnesses on the press were eliminated. And MotionMate can read into hostile environments.
   The finished part is automatically ejected by the robot arm as MotionMate moves the unfinished part into position.

Double Gripping
   In this complex application, a hole is drilled and then deburred perpendicular to the main axis of the part. A double gripper is used to allow the simultaneous performance of both drill and deburrer. The overall layout is shown at the right; the side views of the main steps are show below.
1. A part is picked from the parts feeder. MotionMate then base rotates 90 degrees while wrist rotating gripper II to the top.
2. MotionMate extends, and gripper II graps the part from drill unit A. The MotionMate arm retracts and rotates gripper I to the top. At this point gripper I holds the raw part and gripper II holds the drilled part.
3. MotionMate's arm extends. The jaws of drill A grasp the raw part while B grasps, deburrs and releases the drilled part in gripper II.
4. MotionMate's arm retracts leaving the part in A and removes the finished part from deburring unit B.
5. After a 90 degree base rotation, the finished part is released from gripper II.
   The cycle then repeats. (Note: Parts in the wrong direction from the feeder are released just prior to step 3.)

BACK COVER

Technical Data
(Three CAD/CAM technical drawings of MotionMate)
(MotionMate dimensions table)
(Listing of Schrader Bellows district office phone numbers)

Schrader Bellows
Effective Automation Systems

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