Robotic Automation News

Adding robotic automation to John Hart’s Mazak Variaxis j-500 machining cell

Part two of John Hart’s Mazak Variaxis j-500 machining cell story involves the addition of a robotic machine loading system for long unmanned production runs.

John Harts Mazak Variaxis j 500 machining cell

This Agile Modular automated machine tending system has been developed for the handling and machining of agricultural harvester blades.

The system’s Fanuc M-10iD/8L industrial robot picks the blades from multiple infeed pallets and loads them though a dual operation fixture into the Mazak Variaxis j-500 machine tool.

The Fanuc M-10iD/8L is a highly versatile 6-axis robot designed for maximum reach with light payloads. It’s small footprint and sleek, lightweight design, make it ideally suited to working in compact robotic cells. The Fanuc M-10iD/8L sports a reach of 2032 mm, and a maximum payload of 8 kg at its wrist. 

The 2-pallet changer option on the Mazak Variaxis j-500 reduces the overall takt time by allowing the robot to load and unload the fixture on one pallet while the machine is processing blades on the other pallet.

Further time savings are made with the robot multi-function end-of-arm-tool which handles two blades at a time.

The blade width is measured by the robot before loading into the fixture, the CNC program is then offset in order to machine an accurate and sharp blade edge.

Depending on the blade type, the system can hold between 3500 and 6500 parts which creates extremely long unmanned production runs of several days.

The system is programmed and controlled from the automation HMI without the need to teach the robot.