Continuous material flow for high spindle utilization of the Hermle C400
The automation of material supply and Machining in the cutting processes with CNC machining centers enables efficient production with maximum machine utilization. In this video, the machining process of a Hermle C400 5-axis machining center is extended by a SherpaLoader® M50 with individualized Raw Material Staging. The many possibilities of the SherpaLoader® M50 illustrate how the production process of the Hermle C400 can be efficiently improved.
Material supply with a flexible Raw Material Staging system for the Hermle C400
In this process, material is supplied via MAFU-SHERPA’s SpaceBox. The SpaceBox can be equipped with up to ten drawers and offers 6m2 of Raw Material Staging. The number of drawers can be adapted to the blank geometries used. In this video, you can see that some drawers have been removed from the SpaceBox in order to be able to prepare parts with a greater height. The Raw Material Staging for the SherpaLoader® M50 can therefore be flexibly adapted to different component geometries. This enables efficient processes, even under changing production conditions.
Precise component positioning thanks to intelligent gripping technology and alignment
The Gripper of the SherpaLoader® M50 is equipped with a hook with which the drawers of the Raw Material Staging can be opened automatically. The SherpaLoader® M50 is also equipped with a Vision System. Progressive recognition technology enables the SherpaLoader® M50 to detect the unfinished parts on the SpaceBox and accurately pick them up and position them on the alignment plate. The two grippers of the SherpaLoader® M50 are equipped differently to handle raw parts and finished parts differently. The raw part grippers have pendulum jaws with SingerGrip inserts. The pendulum jaws compensate for possible sawing tolerances of the blanks and thus enable safe transport of the blanks even under changing conditions. The sintered grip increases the grip strength and ensures that the blanks do not slip during transport. On the alignment plate, the blanks are placed against a defined stop to ensure the alignment of the part in the Gripper for clamping in the processing machine. The pre-positioning of the part and the SinterGrip of the blank gripper enable the part to be positioned securely in the Hermle C400 machining center. This ensures a high level of process reliability and consistent component quality.
Maximum process automation on the Hermle C400 with Torque wrench and compressed air cleaning
Before inserting the raw part into the clamping device of the Hermle C400, the SherpaLoader® M50 cleans the clamping jaws with compressed air. The automated cleaning process removes residues of chips or cooling lubricants, which increases the repeat accuracy of the clamping process. Next, the SherpaLoader® M50 is equipped with a Torque wrench. The SherpaLoader® M50 uses the screwdriver to actuate the clamping jaws of the Hermle C400 machining center and then leaves the work area of the system. Reducing manual intervention by automating each process step increases process reliability and enables consistent component quality. Next, personnel management is improved by allowing operators to be deployed for tasks other than machine loading.
Synchronized processes to increase the efficiency of the Hermle C400
While the raw part is being machined in the Hermle C400, the SherpaLoader® M50 is already preparing the next raw part and positioning it on the alignment plate. Once the machining process is complete, the doors of the Hermle C400 open automatically and the SherpaLoader® M50 cleans the finished part with compressed air before releasing the clamping jaws with the Torque wrench. Using the finished part gripper, the SherpaLoader® M50 removes the finished part and cleans the clamping jaws before clamping the next raw part. Synchronous processes are implemented in the production process by preparing the new raw part during the machining process and carrying the new raw part along when removing the finished part. These synchronous processes enable maximum utilization of the Hermle C400 by reducing non-productive times. The finished part is placed back on the Raw Material Staging and the SherpaLoader® M50 starts preparing the New raw part.
Maximum productivity and safety in the automated machining process with the Hermle C400
The complete automation of the production process results in maximizing the spindle time of the Hermle C400 by introducing synchronous processes and minimizing non-productive times. The reduction of manual interventions is achieved through the diverse possibilities of the SherpaLoader® M50. In addition to economic efficiency, production safety is also maximized. The machining process has a safety concept that meets the highest safety standards. The robot cell is completely enclosed and the access doors are secured. A door request must be set for access to the production cell while the automation is running. Only when the robot is in a position is the door released and access to the production process is possible. This ensures the safety of personnel.
