Material Handling System automates laser processing.
Share:
Press Release Summary:
Modular MMHS system optimizes material flow and laser burn time while enabling long periods of unattended operation. Four base systems and choice of options provide flexibility to suit individual shop requirements. Basic MMHS-1 system consists of stack cart, sheet handler, gantry sheet transporter, unload cart or station, and web-enabled PC control. Servo-driven components provide reliable performance, and control enables remote operation and diagnostics capability.Original Press Release:
Cincinnati Automates Laser Processing for Shops of All Sizes with New Modular Material Handling Systems
Four base systems and extensive choice of options enable great flexibility to individual shop requirements - basic load/unload of single laser to fully automated, multi-laser production
January 2005 - Cincinnati Incorporated automates laser processing for shops of all sizes with new modular, sized-to-fit systems to enable hands-off conversion of raw sheet into cut parts. The MMHS systems optimize material flow and laser burn time, while enabling long periods of unattended operation. Four base systems and an extensive choice of options provide great system flexibility to suit individual shop requirements. Systems can be configured for everything from basic automated load/unload of a single laser (System 1) to full automation of high-volume production utilizing material storage towers to serve multiple lasers running complex mixes of parts and materials.
Engineered, manufactured and serviced by Cincinnati, the modular systems allow shops to tailor automated sheet and part handling to existing floor space and today's processing needs, while assuring easy expansion and modification as laser activity grows and changes. The basic MMHS-1 system consists of Stack Cart(s), Sheet Handler, Gantry Sheet Transporter, Unload Cart or Station, and web-enabled PC control with user-friendly touchscreen operation.
The system removes the top sheet of raw material from a stack, transports it on the overhead gantry to the Cincinnati dual-pallet laser, then places the sheet on the open pallet while the previous job is cutting. When that job finishes, the pallets switch positions. The overhead gantry removes the finished nest of parts, strips them onto an unload station or parts cart, then returns to the sheet handler for the next sheet.
The sheet handler separates a single sheet from a stack of raw material using three different technologies - a mechanical peeler, fanning magnet or air knife - to ensure that only a single sheet of material is processed. Before placing the sheet on the gantry transporter, a sheet thickness gage verifies the correct material thickness. A vacuum lift system uses suction cups divided into five programmable zones to best accommodate different sheet sizes.
Servo-driven components provide simple, accurate and reliable performance, while eliminating the need for failure-prone limit switches. A powerful PC-based, web-enabled cell controller makes possible remote operation and diagnostics capability.
For more information, contact Rick Neff, Laser Product Manager, Cincinnati Incorporated, Tel: 513/367-7560. Email: rick.neff@e-ci.com. Visit Cincinnati's web site- www.e-ci.com.
