Process Equipment Company, a builder of special machines located in Tipp City, Ohio, and developers of the Next Dimension Gear Measurement System, announced they have recently integrated robots, spline gaging, and assembly. Process Equipment has become a North American Distribution Partner with Fanuc Robotics, enabling them to integrate variable spline gages and robotics to allow for totally automatic gaging and assembly of splined, or "toothed," components.
The integrated systems can automatically locate, pick up, gage, and assemble spline components of various sizes, and inspection cycle times of 8 seconds or less can be achieved.
In the past it has been extremely difficult to assemble "toothed" components automatically due to the angular orientation and squareness components of assembly. With the new tactile sensing capability of the I21i sensing head, this is no longer an issue.
The new sensing head allows for closed loop feedback to the robotic controller so that the robot "feels its way" around the component for reliable assembly. This new technology eliminates the mundane task of inspecting components completely by hand with "go" and "no go" rings and plugs checking for actual and effective tooth thickness variation and acceptability.
For more information, call Brian Slone at (937) 667-7105 or (800) 998-4191. Also visit the Process Equipment Products Web site at [www.processeq.com] or [www.gearinspection.com].
