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Starting point / Task definition |
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 | | Robots take a shine to pot lids |
KUKA robots grind and polish lids for pressure cookers and cooking pots for WMF. In an ultramodern, future-oriented system from SHL Automatisierungstechnik AG, WMF AG has turned to KUKA robot technology for grinding and polishing processes. The synchronized KUKA KR 60 robots give the inner surfaces of lids for pressure cookers and cooking pots a matte finish, while polishing the outer surfaces to a shine. The system provides the company with a state-of-the-art facility for surface finishing of the aforementioned products.
WMF AG was looking for a way to give the inner and outer surfaces of lids for pressure cookers and cooking pots a matte/polished finish.
These parts were previously machined in turntable systems. The finishing processes for the inner and outer surfaces were carried out in separate operations. Adapting the turntables to cope with different lid shapes was no simple matter. A total of eight different clamping fixtures were required.
The required solution had to be flexible, fast and cost-effective, and it also had to be able to adapt quickly to new trend-related changes in lid shape. | |
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Implementation / Solution |
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| The system concept from SHL Automatisierungstechnik AG is based on four robotic cells. The first consists of a handling robot with a camera system and a grinding unit for the inner surface finish of the lid. In three further cells, each consisting of a handling robot, a grinding unit and two twin-shaft polishing machines, the outer surfaces are polished to a shine. The KUKA robots are each fitted with an external axis in order to be able to carry out the finishing work on the inner surfaces of the lids with a greater rotational speed. Each robot can perform precisely specified motions at the individual brushing and polishing discs, derived from the specific shape of the individual lid, and can thus achieve an optimal surface finish in the shortest possible time. All settings are saved in the program, thus assuring reproducibility. The lids roll off a conveyor belt into the system. The position of each lid is detected by an integrated camera system and passed on to the robot, which lifts the lid off the conveyor using a vacuum gripper and guides it to a so-called “Scotch belt” for finishing. Once it has been given the so-called “solar finish”, the lid is passed on to one of the three other robots. This robot takes care of the polished finish on the outer surface. The polishing paste is supplied directly from a central tank to the individual units where it is then precisely dosed and carefully applied to the polishing disc and to the product via a dispensing gun. The KR 60 now places the freshly polished lid in a turnover station, which ensures that it is laid on the conveyor with the polished side facing upwards; this conveyor transfers the lid out of the system and unites it with its matching pot. | |
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System components / Scope of supply |
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- 4 KUKA KR 60 robots
- Camera system
- 4 grinding units
- 6 twin-shaft polishing machines
- Turnover station
- 4 vacuum grippers
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Results / Success |
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| Each robot can perform precisely specified motions at the individual brushing and polishing discs, derived from the specific shape of the individual lid, and can thus achieve an optimal surface finish in the shortest possible time. The system can still be used if the shape or material of the lids changes. In addition to the high degree of flexibility, the solution with KUKA robots is also characterized by its ease of operation, low consumption rates and high quality. | |
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Number of report |
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| R 293 |
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Industry |
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Metal products
Other industries |
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Application |
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Handling, loading and unloading
Cutting machine tools
Other handling operations
Other machining operations
Other applications |
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Product |
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| Medium payloads (30-60 kg) |
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Customer |
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| Further information |
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| SHL Automatisierungstechnik AG |
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