Automotive Engine Component Assembly
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Automotive Engine Component Assembly
Tech Bulletin
Engineer and install a new semi-automated machine to assemble pins to a rubber valve, utilizing minimal operator interaction while maximizing quality and throughput on a thoughtfully designed no-tool change-over platform.
PROBLEMS WE SOLVE
An automotive manufacturer, wishing to take control of one of their component assemblies, needed a semi-automatic machine to replace an offsite manual operation that was experiencing quality issues and low yield. The automotive engine component assemblies were not being produced in a reliable, efficient manner. A robust system was needed within the constraints of a tight budget and short schedule.
TOOLS WE USE
Several different technologies were used to create this custom machine, including:
1) Six-position cam indexer
2) Integrated vision sensor with built in camera, processor, lighting and optics
3) Multi-stage pneumatic power stroke cylinder
4) LVDT Displacement Transducer
5) Pneumatic gantry slide with multiple stop positions
6) Small component feeder bowl
SOLUTIONS WE PROVIDE
INVOTEC collaborated with the customer to derive a solution that provided easy change-over and poke-yoke capability to detect four different component configurations. The resulting design was a 6' x 6' dial assembly machine that utilized the six-position cam indexer with multi-function tooling nests that require no tools for change-over for different products. Vibratory bowl-feeding and blow-feeding of small sub-components accommodated the spatial constraint of the specified machine footprint. Creative application of two sets of light curtains protected the operator from the indexing dial, as well as from adjacent machine operations, allowing for rapid manual loading of components. Automatic crimping, gauging and unloading completed the automated process in a cycle time that was lower than specified. Overall, this project exceeded the specified requirements and provided the customer with a robust machine that netted a greater yield with improved quality over the manual operation it was replacing.
