THE VISION THING

Looking ahead, Mr. Burg and others predict that robotic vision technology promises to be the next emerging frontier in automaton. Instead of having a fixture that holds a part to be machined in a specific orientation so the robot knows where to pick it up, today’s automation cells include vision cameras to guide robots. Now operators can simply set a part on a conveyor with an accuracy of plus or minus an inch, and the robotic arm will seek, acquire and grip the part for loading.

Make no mistake; robotic vision technology existed in the mid-1980s. However, only recently have costs fallen to the point that including a camera and the associated software in a system is cost-effective. Vision capabilities that formerly cost in excess of $100,000 for hardware alone can now be brought online for a total cost of about $12,000. Furthermore, software advances have simplified system operations to the point that no special knowledge of programming or engineering is essential to successful operations.

As the metalworking industry becomes increasingly more competitive, more owner/operators are looking to robotics and automation for solutions to the pressures they face to remain productive and profitable. With the proliferation of manufacturers specializing in motion control, workhandling, tooling and software applications for CNC machine tool automation, there has probably never been a more advantageous time for medium- to small-size shops to evaluate a move to automation.

“Today there are viable and economical automation solutions in applications that just ten years ago may have been quite a stretch,” says Mr. Burg. “There is a wealth of expertise available in the marketplace to help shop managers make the transition to robotics. Affordable, off-the-shelf components that facilitate the process are widely available, and many shops have already begun the process of moving to automated CNC cell manufacturing. And, oh by the way—if you have not yet started to evaluate automation—keep in mind that your competitors probably already have.”