Automation meets fastening and bonding - smarter systems for smarter factories

Assembly engineers will benefit enormously from a trip to MachineBuilding.Live, where ABB for example highlights how cobots can streamline assembly lines, ensuring efficient and precise manufacturing, or help to improve your craftsmanship, ensuring that every detail is a masterpiece.

A number of cobot suppliers will be exhibiting at MachineBuilding.Live, including Applied Automation, which combines a Universal Robot cobot with the Robotiq screwdriving solution to enable you to automation a screwdriving application. The flexible solution includes a compact screwdriver, and adaptable screw feeder, and an easy-to-program URCap with force-sensing applications that supports your daily production changeovers.

Talk, too, to LG Motion, which says TM robot external positioners can unlock complex part handling and increased productivity. External positioners are motorised devices (1-axis or 2-axis) designed to rotate or tilt workpieces during robotic operations. When integrated with TM robots, these positioners enable synchronised motion, allowing the robot arm to operate on complex surfaces with enhanced precision and flexibility. Typical applications include: welding - seamlessly rotate or tilt parts for complete weld coverage without repositioning manually; dispensing - achieve consistent coating or adhesive application over complex geometries; and assembly - access hard-to-reach angles by moving the workpiece instead of the robot.

If you wanted to develop your own automatic screwdriving application, you could talk, for example, to HepcoMotion, which worked with AVK Plastics when the company needed an actuator to ensure accuracy, repeatability and stability in its automatic screwdriving system in the manufacture of synthetic surface boxes and pallets.

A central part of the system, the actuator is responsible for moving an automatic screwdriver horizontally in order to fix 3 x screws (spaced 300mm apart) into a pallet. Precision and repeatability are key here as the screwdriver needs to be precisely aligned in order to fasten the screws into the screw holes. In addition, the unit also needs to offer high stability due to the precision and accuracy required. AVK Plastics turned to HepcoMotion after the previous actuator could not provide the high stability required, causing them to need a replacement.

Then there is the importance of quality control in joining operations. IDS, for example, can highlight the use of its intelligent cameras as part of an image processing system with AI to inspect the glue joints on multilayer parquet flooring.

Talk, too, to Micro-Epsilon, whose scanCONTROL laser profile sensors are frequently used to look for the presence, height and width of adhesive beads on assemblies.

If you have a hot gluing process in your packaging line, a conversation with SICK could be well worth your while. Secondary packaging is often automatically set up, folded and glued, but if this is not the case, the hot glue nozzle must be set to the correct position before the gluing process. SICK's WTB4FP MultiSwitch photoelectric proximity sensor provides assistance here. Using IO-Link, it transmits its distance to the packaging to the nozzle in mm. This allows the nozzle to be positioned correctly.

There is much to learn, too, from the adhesive companies who are exhibiting at MachineBuilding.Live. At the event, LOCTITE will highlight its automation capabilities, helping manufacturers accelerate production while maintaining precision and quality. Plus, visitors can learn about the comprehensive process audits offered by LOCTITE, which identify cost-saving opportunities through tailored, on-site assessments, complete with actionable reports and expert recommendations.

Seeing is believing when it comes to the speed, precision and repeatability you will witness at MachineBuilding.Live. You can register to attend here.