Sanding simplified: How Andrew Pearce Bowls automated sanding tasks with a cobot

Watch how Andrew Pearce Bowls deployed the UR5e collaborative robot from Universal Robots to sand cutting boards. The team developed the application in-house with the UR+ certified Sanding Kit from Robotiq and built the fixturing that enables the UR5e to change its own sandpaper. The cell also includes a V-shaped flipping jig that allows the cobot to flip the board over 45 degrees so it can pick it up and sand the bottom side without any manual intervention.

No one at Andrew Pearce had any prior experience with robotics. We ultimately chose a UR robot because of the non‑proprietary software and the availability of online teaching and learning resources. Universal Robots, Robotiq, and our local provider, Axis New England, all provided strong support and resources, which gave us confidence that we wouldn’t be left on our own trying to operate the system. On the robot itself, we use a finish sander and a vacuum gripper. Both tools are very simple to use within the teach pendant. Setting the waypoints for sanding patterns is straightforward. You simply define the corners, choose the speeds and pattern, and then press play. With the UR+ ecosystem, it is much easier to automate a wide range of processes, including sanding. The URCap also makes it very easy to demonstrate the system to customers. We built some custom fixturing that allows the robot to change its own sandpaper. The robot can also move a board to a flipping jig, enabling it to process complete cutting boards — typically 10 to 15 at a time. We work with products ranging from cutting boards measuring 17 inches by 17 inches down to small ornaments. Changing from one product to another is extremely simple. You place the material on the infeed table and open the corresponding program. The changeover process is very fast. When we ran into issues, we had multiple support options. We could contact Universal Robots directly, where people were always willing to help, and the UR Academy taught us a great deal about how to approach different challenges. There are also online forums. When we encountered forced stops and singularity issues with some larger products, the forums helped us learn how to adjust our fixturing so we could work with those items without running into problems. Seeing the robot up and running is very exciting, and everyone is amazed at what it can do. I’m always looking toward the next step and exploring what new possibilities automation can bring.