Production refinement has become one of the core requirements in the CNC industry.
However, traditional CNC production methods cannot meet the needs of products in terms of stability and refinement. In addition, traditional CNC machine tools still require manual control.
There is a significant difference between skilled workers and newly hired workers in terms of production efficiency.
Even if the same worker operates a CNC machine tool to produce products, there is some fluctuation in terms of stability.
If the product exceeds the parameter error, it will be scrapped, which increases the production burden of the enterprise.
Faced with increasingly fierce market competition, the emergence of industrial robots provides a new way for the upgrading of CNC machine tool production and should receive sufficient attention from enterprises.
1. Feasibility Analysis of Promoting Industrial Robots in the Field of CNC Machine Tools
Compared with traditional production methods, CNC machine tools have highly automated functions, which to some extent reduces the labor operation cost of enterprises and greatly improves production efficiency, providing favorable conditions for industrial robots to play their roles.
However, various operations are still required in the CNC machine tool production process, such as loading and unloading materials, quality inspection, etc. If every link of the CNC machine tool utilizes the function of industrial robots, the flexibility and precision of production will be greatly improved.
In addition, both industrial robots and CNC machine tools can operate and produce round-the-clock, showing wide applicability.
Moreover, the use of robots can greatly develop the functions of CNC machine tools, enabling a single machine to perform multiple tasks, such as measuring, drilling, milling, etc.
From the perspective of production capacity, industrial robots can automatically compensate for errors and meet different processing requirements. During the production process, they can also adjust the machining angles to ensure the accuracy of the product.
2. Practical Analysis of the Application of Industrial Robots in CNC Machine Tools
(1) Participating in Manufacturing
In the process of machining structural components, the participation of robots in CNC machine tools can ensure automation in production.
With the development of technology, there are now robots specifically designed for CNC machine tools on the market.
These robots can achieve autonomous and precise production during manufacturing, greatly improving the quality and efficiency of products compared to traditional CNC machine tool production.
Firstly, the application of precision production technology enables robots to achieve high stability in mass production. Secondly, some CNC production lines have installed fixtures specifically designed for industrial robots, laying a solid equipment foundation for robots to participate in manufacturing.
In addition, if manual loading and unloading or parts handling are still required during single-machine production on the CNC machine tool production line, the use of robots can not only undertake these tasks but also achieve flexible production in polishing, welding, and other processes, ensuring the production level of products.
(2) Assisting CNC Bending Machine Work
In the field of CNC bending, robots mainly participate in production and practical activities through the following two methods.
One is that the CNC bending machine occupies a core position, and the robot flexibly moves within the bending unit with the help of a vacuum suction cup and magnetic force, especially achieving automatic production in the positioning table and flip frame.
The second is that industrial robots move flexibly on the CNC production line with the help of walking axes, reducing the flexibility of the production line processing.
Robots can ensure the seamless connection of the CNC bending machine, especially with the help of professional software, robots can achieve closed-loop control. Even if the CNC machine tool adopts different bending speeds, the robot can fully keep up with the pace of production with the help of sensors.
In China, the use of robots in CNC bending machines only takes about two hours for teaching bending. This mode is widely applicable in production industries such as anti-theft doors and elevators.
(3) Ensuring the Integrated Function of CNC Machine Tool Stamping
In the CNC machine tool production line, a single-machine robot is used to realize the autonomous positioning and transfer of sheet metal. After the sheet metal is accurately positioned, it undergoes precise pressure impact to complete the initial production stage.
For the material after stamping, the robot will automatically transfer it to the stacking table, so that the single-machine robot can complete the intelligent loading and unloading activities.
If multiple robots are used in the CNC production line, the robots are connected through the stamping line. This production method is mainly used for processing parts with more complex processes.
In the entire CNC production line, multiple robots often only perform a single task, such as the loading robot only undertaking the loading intelligence, and the transfer robot only undertaking the function of plate transportation.
In traditional CNC production fields, mechanical arms can ensure the autonomy of loading and unloading, but this production method has higher requirements for molds and poor integration.
The use of industrial robots can enhance the flexibility of the CNC production line, ensure the effective improvement of production efficiency, and the control system can also ensure that the robot achieves self-protection, and the robot will only work during normal operation of the machine tool to ensure production safety.
(4) Application in Hot Forging
Some CNC machine tools undertake hot forging production, and the common CNC machine tool for hot forging production consists of two forging machines. These two machines are responsible for stamping or cutting edges.
When using industrial robots in this CNC machine tool, two robots should be used according to their different functions.
One robot is responsible for the accurate transfer of high-temperature materials, mainly delivering the processed material from the furnace to the stamping machine.
The other robot delivers the stamped material to the edge-cutting machine. After stamping, the CNC machine tool may form adhesion due to high temperature, and the robot can also undertake the lubrication function.
The production environment in this process is relatively harsh, and in order to prolong the working life of the robot, robot protection work must be done, especially to avoid damage from high temperature and radiation.
The robot should also achieve self-avoidance of hazards with the help of various sensors, ensuring that it stays away from extreme production environments.
3. Conclusion
With the help of technology, the level of intelligence of robots used in the field of CNC machine tools will continue to rise, and their structure will become more flexible, and control systems will become simpler.
CNC machine tools are still in the initial stage of application in industrial production in our country, especially compared with developed countries in the West.
To make up for the production gap, technicians must further strengthen the deep integration of robots and CNC machine tools, make up for each other’s shortcomings, achieve close cooperation, help the secondary industry transform and upgrade, and continuously improve the precision and intelligence level of industrial production.
