Hillary Machinery supplies cobot machine tending systems for automated loading and unloading of CNC lathes, machining centers and other production equipment. Using collaborative robots such as the FANUC CRX, these systems can reduce repetitive machine-loading labor, increase spindle utilization and help manufacturers extend production during breaks, nights and weekends.
Cobot machine tending systems use collaborative robots to automate repetitive loading and unloading tasks on CNC machines and other production equipment. A cobot can pick a raw workpiece from a tray, drawer, rack or other part-presentation system, load it into the machine, remove the completed part and place it in a designated location.
For the right application, cobot machine tending can increase productive spindle hours while allowing skilled employees to spend less time performing repetitive machine loading and unloading.
A CNC machine-tending system combines the collaborative robot with the equipment required to reliably move parts through the machining process. Depending on the application, the system may include:
Cobot tending can be particularly useful when CNC operators spend a significant amount of time performing repetitive part loading rather than higher-value machining, setup, inspection or process-management tasks.
Hillary Machinery offers machine-tending solutions using FANUC CRX collaborative robots. FANUC CRX cobots are available in multiple payload and reach configurations, allowing the robot to be selected around the workpiece, machine layout and required handling process.
As a FANUC Authorized Systems Integrator, Hillary Machinery can evaluate the robot together with the CNC machine, workholding, part presentation, controls and overall manufacturing process rather than treating the robot as a stand-alone piece of equipment.
Hillary Machinery also offers YC RoboTech cobot machine tending systems designed specifically for CNC loading and unloading applications.
The YC RoboTech Labot SD system combines a collaborative robot with machine tending hardware and the Smart EZ HMI touchscreen control platform to provide a packaged CNC automation solution.
View the YC RoboTech Labot SD Cobot Machine Tending System
Cobots and traditional industrial robots can both automate CNC machine tending, but the best choice depends on payload, required reach, cycle time, floor space, part presentation and the overall production process.
Cobots can be attractive for applications where flexibility, compact deployment and operator interaction are priorities. Traditional industrial robots may be more appropriate when higher speeds, heavier payloads, longer reach or multi-machine tending are required.
Compare Robotic Machine Tending Systems
Manufacturers do not necessarily need to purchase a new CNC machine to add automation. Many existing CNC lathes and machining centers can potentially be integrated with cobot machine tending, depending on the machine controls, workholding, door configuration, part geometry and manufacturing process.
Hillary Machinery can evaluate existing equipment to determine what additional interfaces or equipment may be required for automated loading and unloading.
Cobot systems are often an effective solution for tending a single CNC machine, particularly when the application requires flexibility and relatively compact automation.
Applications requiring one robot to service multiple CNC machines, heavier workpieces or substantially longer reach may benefit from a traditional industrial robotic machine-tending system instead.
Explore Multi-Machine Robotic Tending
The robot is only one part of a reliable machine-tending system. Raw parts must be presented in a predictable way, and finished components must have somewhere to go after machining.
Depending on production requirements, part presentation may use:
Successful CNC automation should be designed around the complete manufacturing process rather than selecting a cobot based only on payload.
Hillary Machinery can help evaluate:
The use of a collaborative robot does not automatically make every robotic application safe to operate without additional protective measures. The complete application—including the robot, gripper, workpiece, CNC machine, tooling and surrounding process—must be evaluated.
Appropriate safeguarding and operating requirements should be determined from the completed system and application risk assessment.
A cobot machine tending system uses a collaborative robot and supporting automation equipment to load raw workpieces into a CNC machine and remove finished parts after the machining cycle.
Yes. Cobots can be integrated with CNC lathes to load and unload workpieces when the part, chuck, machine interface and overall production process are suitable for robotic automation.
Yes. Cobot systems can tend vertical machining centers by loading and unloading parts from vises, fixtures or other workholding when the application permits.
In many cases, yes. Existing CNC equipment can potentially be automated after evaluating machine communication, doors, workholding, part presentation, guarding and the overall machining process.
That depends on the completed application and risk assessment. Collaborative robot capability does not by itself eliminate the need for safeguarding. Workpiece geometry, grippers, tooling, robot speed, machine access and other hazards must be considered.
Cobots can provide a flexible and compact solution for suitable machine-tending applications, while traditional industrial robots may offer advantages in speed, payload, reach and multi-machine applications. The best choice depends on the actual production requirement.
Hillary Machinery can evaluate your CNC machine, part, workholding, cycle time, production requirements and available floor space to determine whether cobot machine tending is the appropriate automation solution.
View Available Cobot Machine Tending Systems or contact Hillary Machinery to discuss your CNC automation application.
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