AUTOMATION | 3D VISION
3D vision-guided robotics are far
better equipped to cope.
Highlighting the growing uptake
of this technology, 48 of the top
100 automotive suppliers already
automate bin picking with 3D vision or
have it in the pipeline for the coming
1-2 years. This advanced technology
suits many tasks in the automotive
arena, not least random picking
operations.
A case in point can be seen at
KYB Americas Corp, one of the
world’s largest shock-absorber
manufacturers, which saved 50% of
operator time on machine feeding by
using a Pick-it 3D vision system with a
robot by Universal Robots to automate
a bin-picking process.
The previously manual operation,
which was time consuming and error
prone, involved bin picking steel
cylinders with a slightly different
diameter at each end and placing
them on a conveyor belt in the
same position and orientation each
time. Using the automated system,
the operator can now take a bag of
products and dump them down a
chute, after which the vision-enabled
Universal Robot picks the products.
As a result, the operator now has time
to tend two lines with four robots,
while still achieving fast cycle times.
Such was the project’s success that
the company now has four Universal
Robots fitted with Pick-it 3D vision
systems.
“Today’s automation revolves
around keeping headcount down
and costs low in production
environments,” states Jerry Reamer,
Director of Production Engineering
at KYB. “Pick-it was able to achieve
these goals a lot easier
and with a lot less
components. In short,
we found an elegant
solution that would fit
directly into our current
production cell with very
little modifications.”
3D vision is also ideal for
automation revolves
around keeping headcount
down and costs low in
production environments...
we found an elegant solution
that would fit directly into
our current production
layered, semi-structured applications.
Among those able to testify is GKN
Automotive, which has automated
bin picking with 30 Fanuc robots
empowered by Pick-it 3D systems.
At the company, certain gearbox
parts need to pass through up
to 50 machines to complete the
manufacturing process. On their
journey, objects are either randomly
thrown in a bin, or placed by a robot
in a structured way. During internal
transportation, 10% of the parts would
fall over or change position. However,
Pick-it 3D vision enables
the robot to pick parts
successfully, whatever
their orientation.
Of course, it is not
only large manufacturers
enjoying the benefits of
3D vision. So-called ‘DIY
automation’ is becoming more
cell with very little
modifications.”
prevalent across industry, as Adam
Wiltsie, Plant Manager at Vanamatic, a
global supplier of precision machined
components, confirms: “I pretty much
taught myself how to use and set up
our 3D vision system. I’m surprised
that more people are not doing it.
They don’t seem to know they can.”
With no background in robotics –
and with the help of YouTube – Wiltsie
designed and implemented a binpicking
cell with Pick-it 3D vision all
by himself. He automated a process
which previously has a turnover
of 30 people a year, taking it from
a 100% manned operation, to 20%
manned. Before, the components had
to be staged to be picked from the
exact same point every time. Now,
Pick-it detects the part’s location and
orientation so the Universal Robot can
pick it.
Pick-it, which is available from
RARUK Automation, is suitable for
automating nearly any picking task of
different shapes, materials and size
that need to be placed and fed into
a machine or process. The system
can find parts in bins, boxes, pallets
and on tables. Easy-to-use software
eliminates laborious programming,
and no special skills are required. !
“Today’s
26 WWW.EUREKAMAGAZINE.CO.UK | JULY 2020
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