Alexander Trost founded the company in Rahden in 2006 with a vertical machining center. Today, the company manufactures products using seven modern CNC machining centers and a team of ten qualified employees in a 1,300 m\u00b2 facility. <\/p>\n\n
Making manufacturing tasks as simple as possible is one of the supreme challenges of machining. Automation can play a crucial role here\u2014especially when it prioritizes simplicity. MAFU-SHERPA CNC Automation GmbH demonstrates how camera-guided CNC automation boosts productivity, improves cost-effectiveness, and makes manufacturing workstations more attractive. <\/p>\n\n
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\u201cOur daily challenge is to remain competitive. Because the competition is getting tougher and tougher,\u201d emphasizes Alexander Trost, managing director of TROST Zerspanungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG<\/a> in Rahden. \u201cOur top priority is ensuring trouble-free machine operation while reducing the workload on our operators.\u201d TROST manufactures precision components for general and specialized machine construction, typically in small and medium-sized production runs. For many years, the company has relied on reliable 3- and 5-axis machining centers of HURCO. To reduce setup times and ease the workload on staff, a HURCO VMX 30Ui was automated<\/a> using the SherpaLoader\u00ae. <\/p>\n\n At TROST, a SherpaLoader\u00ae has been handling workpieces since 2021, from material staging to the finished part. Two table trolleys serve as material storage. A 3D camera system mounted on the robot detects the blanks as they are fed in, regardless of their orientation, eliminating the need for dies or fixed stops. The robot precisely aligns the blank, automatically clamps it in the vise of the HURCO VMX 30Ui, and starts machining. After machining, the SherpaLoader\u00ae M20 cleans the workpiece with compressed air, removes it, and immediately loads the next blank. This ensures that loading and unloading operations run synchronously\u2014for maximum spindle runtime and process reliability. \u201cDuring the day, we\u2019ve reduced our staffing levels, and in the evenings we can continue production unmanned,\u201d reports Trost. \u201cThe combination of the HURCO machine and Sherpa automation has proven its worth; since 2024, the next SherpaLoader\u00ae has been loading a VMX42 SRti on the production floor\u2014our key to consistent productivity.\u201d <\/p>\n\nAutomated 5-axis Machining at TROST<\/h2>\n\n
Maximum flexibility through camera control<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n