Manufacturing Automation
Virtually every piece of equipment or machine today can be modified or
customized to become automated. Some common pieces of
automation equipment include conveyors, sensors, assembly lines, robots, pick and place systems and actuators. Various motion control mechanisms are used to enable precise and repetitive movements independently of human influence. Operators oversee the processes but do not need to do as much work as they normally would because automation greatly reduces the need for them. Because they are automated, these manufacturing systems do not require much human assistance and are typically cost effective, labor-saving and consistent in their production, able to do the same exact movement again and again. Also, the less human involvement, the fewer human errors the company will suffer from. Manufacturing automation is widely used by manufacturers who work in a variety of materials and industries performing agricultural, automotive, computer, electrical, electronics, food and beverage processing, medical, semiconductor and telecommunications applications. Manufacturing automation can be applied to one machine or to a whole series of equipment. Single machines require more effort from the operator to load and unload the machine or to turn the workpiece around, for example.
Manufacturing automation systems are composed of many individual pieces of automated equipment and are able to practically run themselves. Instead of needing an operator to place the workpiece on the machine and remove it, a vibratory feeder may drop a workpiece onto a conveyor belt that carries it through a series of rollers. A
robotic arm could pick up the workpiece and place it down on another machine where it is stamped, rotated and stamped again. The product could then be conveyed through a spray booth, dried, packaged and packed. Automation allows that entire process to take place without the use of a worker even touching the product. Different factories work with different substances and products but having automated machines is beneficial across the board. Certain equipment and machine configurations are frequently used because of their efficiency and ease of use. Carousel systems, continuous motion conveyors, inline indexing, multi-station, rotary, synchronized and walking beam transfer systems are a few of the many arrangements of equipment. Other items that are used in an automated system include lifts, marking equipment, vision systems, pallet transfer systems, high speed
assembly machines, testing equipment, bulk handling equipment, cleanroom applications and more.
