CNC Automation Applications Integrate AGVs, AMRs for Intelligent Control in the Mold Shop
Automated guided vehicles (AGV) or autonomous mobile robots (AMR) incorporating Fastems’ manufacturing management software enables timely, safe and economical transfers of project items.
Within the past few years the number of Fastems’ CNC automation solutions utilizing automated guided vehicles (AGV) or autonomous mobile robots (AMR) has multiplied, and the demand keeps rising, the company reports. Typical AGV applications include material intralogistics, delivering tools to machines and moving machining pallets between production process phases. The common goal of all the AGV projects is timely, safe and economical transfers of production items and Fastems is actively developing ways to use these technologies efficiently with CNC automation.
There are automated vehicles in many production shops, whether it’s in aerospace, defense, machine or mold building. When it comes to CNC automation and AGVs or AMRs, Fastems notes that these solutions can be of great help in reducing manual transfers and forklift operations, reducing buffer sizes, increasing the automation level and making production flow more predictable and reproducible.
Fastems’ manufacturing management software (MMS) is said to bring higher intelligence for AGV use by overseeing all production orders and resources and scheduling everything for timely customer deliveries. In practice, MMS schedules production based on customer orders and available production resources such as machine tools, cutting tools and raw materials, then prompts the AGV’s fleet management software to perform the right transfers at the right time. Moreover, in the event that the unexpected happens — an urgent customer order comes in, or a machine breaks — MMS adjusts the production (including the AGV movement) so that the most urgent jobs still get done in time and all the needed resources are in place when needed.
In addition to customer deliveries, Fastems says it has multiple R&D projects in progress to understand and find the most productive and economical ways of AGV and AMR use in CNC automation. The scope of research involves not only current customer applications but also looks further beyond.
Related Content
-
Machine Hammer Peening Automates Mold Polishing
A polishing automation solution eliminates hand work, accelerates milling operations and controls surface geometries.
-
MoldMaking Technology's Most-Viewed Content 2022: Products
MMT shares the five top-viewed technologies, equipment and services of 2022 in each Engineer, Build, Maintain and Manage tenet based on Google Analytics.
-
Reimagining Moldmaking with Technology
A look at some of the technology mold builders have expressed a growing interest in and are now actively investigating, including advancements in mold design, 3D printing, automation, machining, inspection and repair.