Project List

Deflashing of Automotive Gas Tanks and other blow molded plastic parts

Challenge: Hand trimming of plastics is not safe and labor intensive. Part shinkage is difficult to compensate. Automated trim fixtures and other trim robots do not compensate for part shrinkage. Other vision or sensor based algorithms are complex and not cost effective to implement.
Our Solution: We have worked with robotic deflashing of plastic since 1998. Based on years of experience we developed a real world deflashing solution. Our deflashing solution feature a FANUC robot equipped with Accudeflash(TM) EOAT (USPT 6,086,294). On top of that, we package a robot with our uptime oriented tools and software to make it real production ready. The high performance cutter stays on the parting line regardless of shrinkage. Our customers wittnessed cutter life of 67 linear miles on HDPE. Also works on LDPE, TPO, Polycarbonate, and other plastics.
Bottom line: Up to Class A trim quality. Deflashing Robot keeps up with a mold. Over 60 successful AccuDeflash(TM) systems in US and Europe.

Food robot for ice-cream processing plant

Challenge and our solution:We collaborated with one of FANUCs integration partners to design, program and integrate FANUC LR Mate 200iB/5WP Food robot into an ice-cream processing and packaging application.
Bottom line: These robots were Food industry's first endeavor into 6-axis robots. Initial installation was successful and is running well and delivering improved profitability to the end-user.

Vision guided de-palletizing

Challenge:An automated case handling system that is able to locate a pair of cases in each layer, on up to 7 layers deep pallet. Pallets with cases are roughly located, however a high accuracy of case placing on a conveying system is required.
Our Solution: For this project, we applied a robot mounted 2-D vision system to accurately located and de-palletize 3-D stacks of cases, up to 7 layers deep, compensating up to +/- 4 inches and 30 deg of displacement. Solution included a FANUC M410iB palletizing robot, FANUC V500iA vision, and the appropriate lighting and programming.
Bottom line: elimination of mechanical aligners, and guides, by using a flexible vision guided robot system.

Vision guided part loading

Challenge:Identify party orientation (+/- 180 deg), locate and pick left and right hand raw automotive suspension parts and load them repeatedly into a machining center. System should recognize which part style is there.
Our Solution: We applied FANUC R2000iA 165F robot, FANUC 2DV vision system, along with our vision know-how and robot software. Midwest Robotics designed and setup lighting, optics and vision software.
Bottom line:Exceeding customer expectations of high accuracy (less 0.5mm), flexibility, low cost, and ease of use of the system.