CNC Lathe Automation System

MWES designed and built an automation system that works with the Okuma line of CNC lathes, by using a robot to pick the raw parts from an infeed conveyor and place the part into the CNC lathe. Once the part is loaded into the lathe the operator selects the program from an HMI to begin the machining. The part is then removed from the lathe by the robot, and the part is put through final cleaning and placed back on the outfeed conveyor.

The system begins when the operator sets up the lathe tooling and program for the fitting being run. The operator then loads the infeed belt conveyor with the raw parts/forgings that are to be machined. They then select the part number or program to be run on the HMI and initiate the machine cycle. The vision system checks the raw parts on the conveyor for location and orientation. The robot then picks the raw part off the conveyor with the gripper and moves it to the lathe once the door has automatically opened. The raw part is placed inside the lathe where it is gripped by the chuck jaws. Once the robot has exited the lathe, the door closes and the machine cycle begins.

Once the machining is complete, the robot retrieves the machined part from inside the lathe and then moves it to the blow-off station where any debris is blown off the part. After completing that, the robot then moves to the deburring station where the part is manipulated to perform the deburring process. Once complete, the part receives another round in the blow-off station, before being placed onto the exit conveyor where the completed part is then retrieved by the operator.