Production Equipment

Production Equipment

Production equipment is often a CNC machining piece, aided by services such as systems design, controls design, computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), equipment installation, process development, turnkey systems, process development and tooling design. Computer programs help design the majority of parts and usually a prototype is created from these designs as a small model, a life-size replica or the product itself. Once the design is settled upon, production equipment is used to create the actual item. Sometimes short runs of only a few products are completed while other items may be mass produced. After production, the part undergoes any finishing processes such as painting or assembly before it is packaged and shipped to its destination. Some companies and factories specialize in general purpose production while others are focused on a specific production area such as agricultural, automotive, computer-related, electrical, electronics, fiber optics, military, marine, semiconductor or other applications. Production equipment varies in terms of the level of technology and its capabilities.

There are five general categories that most equipment can be sorted into: automated assembly, marking, pick and place, material handling and testing equipment. Automated assembly equipment often includes the use of robotic technology. Robots are multifunctional devices used to move materials, parts, tools or other devices in programmed motions. Marking equipment is used to add identification in the form of a name, logo, part number or mark on the product itself. This can also be performed in the finishing stage but is often done during production as well. Pick and place equipment can automatically move parts or components from one location to another. These devices or machines are programmed to perform repeated and predetermined motions. They allow the part to be moved from one production line to the next. Material handling equipment is also automated. Conveyors, parts feeders and packaging equipment allow human operators to perform other tasks instead of adding new workpieces or raw materials to the production line. These machines are especially useful when the products require sanitary conditions and clean handling or if the materials are corrosive or harmful. Last, testing equipment maintains quality control by performing tests and analysis on the produced parts to ensure that they meet certain standards.