Automated assembly of electrical panel covers

Abstract

Purpose

To report on the design and development of an automated circuit breaker panel cover assembly system. The system employs two robotically controlled spot welding heads and a robotic finished workpiece unloading station.

Design/methodology/approach

A major electrical equipment builder turned to a skilled system integrator to design a system to meet a specific productivity goal and handle a wide family of product. The system integrator turned to several highly qualified subcontractors to supply key portions of the system. As a team then selected the welding heads, controls, pallet transport systems and robots and developed a system controller, parts holding devices and software for the application.

Findings

A combination of some manually operations with automated spot welding and robotic workpiece handling equipment can produce outstanding productivity improvements.

Practical implications

A careful selection of a qualified system integrator with experience in the type of application, teamed with subcontractors skilled in all the skills needed for the project can help insure an outcome that meets initial productivity objectives.

Originality/value

Seeing the results of others in tackling what may seem like a hard to automate application can provide a road map to success.

Citation

Bloss, R. (2006), "Automated assembly of electrical panel covers", Assembly Automation, Vol. 26 No. 3, pp. 192-194. https://doi.org/10.1108/01445150610679713