RCM has now deployed UR10e cobots in two identical cells where they each tend two dual-spindle CNC lathes in the same cycle, manufacturing a consumer plumbing product. Operators simply load parts on a table and the robots move them from station to station, picking up a raw part, putting it in a pre-fixture to align it correctly, placing it on the first chuck then the second chuck, and finally dropping the completed part onto a conveyor belt to return to the operator.

The cobot’s integrated force-torque sensing allows it to search for the correct position on the chucks and self-align. The force-torque sensing also allows the robot to detect and reject parts that are out of shape or parts that don’t load correctly. Another RCM application has a UR10 cobot picking up metal rings from a lathe tended by a cartesian robot. The UR10 puts the parts in a wash tank to wash off any lubricants, then circulates the parts in front of a blower to dry them before placing the finished product on drums.

While staffing requirements for these particular tasks were reduced through collaborative automation, sales and marketing director Mike Higgins explains how the company was able to retain U.S. jobs by being more competitive. “We were able to gain revenue and gain capacity, so those employees could be deployed to other departments and other services within the organization,” he says. “When it comes to staffing in an urban area such as we are, it’s very tough,” Higgins explains. “All of us manufacturers are fighting for skilled employees. We need to look at all times where we can automate, especially in repetitive tasks.”

Marconi expects to see continued benefits from the cobots, which paid for themselves in less than a year. “We have many future applications planned, but I think one of the main benefits of these robots is they’re so easily able to be redeployed,” he explains. “As our line expands and as we’re looking to improve on throughput, we already have plans to take those robots, move them to different areas, and get better throughput from those cells without having to re-do any kind of caging or any kind of wiring.” This is very different than traditional industrial robots, which are rarely redeployed because of the costs and downtime related to moving bulky safety caging.

Automation specialist Cameron Friend with FPE Automation helped RCM select the UR cobots. “The e-Series robots are what we are leading with our customers as the cobot of choice,” he says. Advantages he outlines include intuitive programming, great user experience, fast joint replacements, integrated force-torque sensing, and, of course, the increased repeatability of 30 microns for the UR3e and UR5e and 50 microns for the UR10e. “Those are all very important factors that are helping us break into new applications. Besides machine tending these are tasks such as deburring, dispensing, packing and palletizing.”