I had a few good questions sent to me on the last entry so I am going to give a bit of detail on one application to better show the process.
A question I get often is robot vs CNC for finishing work. While there is not a clear yes or no type answer there are a few points that can help to guide the person faced with the question.
Choosing a machine can be complicated. From floor space issues to getting everyone up to speed and able to use it successfully. Then there are the details such as how much is it? And when can I have it on the floor. There are an untold number of people selling finishing machines and it can be tough to sort through them. You want a machine that will do the job and not be out of service every time you turn around. This is where you can help yourself by weeding through the different avenues available to you.
As is always the case looking for ways to save money often leads to looking at many different paths. It can be the time invested in a process to vendor supplies and services. One area to look at that often hides savings is finishing.
We all know the typical wide belt machine and how it works. That process has been the same for a long time and has just been accepted as the norm. Cutting metal creates a bur and that must be removed for a number of reasons. Having the fresh cut edge causes issues with just handling the parts in more ways than one. The risk of people getting cut in assembly or later by the finished product is one of the most worrisome. Secondary to that is the bur tends to scratch other parts in stacking or just general movements around the shop. That leads to secondary operations or part rejection that can be avoided. Below is a close view of before and after just to show what the bur looks like in this parts case. The parts are identical with the left being fresh from the cutting operation and the right being after bur removal.
In this week’s blog post, we’re giving the floor to AM Machinery Sales President Tony McCue for another video blog on the cost savings that come from disc sanding.
“The old way is an expensive way to build a piece of equipment,” Tony says in this clip.
A lot of things can change in an industry over the course of 40 years, and the machinery and deburring field is no exception.
When you compare the technology used in 1977 to what we work with today, it can seem like traveling from the stone age to the space age. For example:
- Metal cutting and punching has become so advanced that many manufactures can claim they offer burr-free parts.
- Laser technology now offers higher capacity and faster cutting speeds.
- The last 10 to 15 years have seen significant advances in water jet technology.
But there's one area that hadn't changed much during the past 40 years, and that's deburring machines. At least until the advent of the Loewer disc machines, which entered the U.S. market several years ago.
Most manufacturers still use an abrasive belt in their deburring machine. But it's worth asking: With today's technology being so advanced, and with laser cutting available, do you still need the abrasive belt?
