Case Study: Major U.S. Automotive Company

Business Challanges

A leading Robotic Systems Supplier had a tight timetable for the design and manufacturing of 8 Automatic Basket Machines for use in Robotic Automation Cells for Ford. The Automatic Basket Machines automatically destack the baskets and position the individual baskets for part loading and unloading by the robot machine designs required a high level of design expertise in order to meet the overall tight design requirements and tight tolerances. Due to the tight project schedule, design reviews were a critical part of the overall project.

Project Challanges

  • Robotic Cell throughput rates required that the Automatic Basket Machines be designed to automatically exchange single baskets at a rate of one basket every 20.0 seconds.
  • A machine design was required that would provide consistent positioning of the Baskets within the tight positioning requirements needed for the parts presentation to the Robot Unit .
  • Due to the high complexity of the Automatic Basket Machine Design a design method was required that would properly illustrate the integral designs of the equipment throughout the design phase of the project.
  • The machine was required to handle 5 different types of baskets.

The Results

  • The Blue Arc Project Team utilized SolidWorks and SolidWorks Animation for the detailed design of the Automatic Basket Machines.
  • The BMH and Blue Arc Engineering Project Team work closely with the Project Team throughout the duration of the project. This assured that the project remained on target and on schedule.
  • Project Meetings were often held at the site utilizing Web-Ex to link in the Blue Arc Team.
  • The BMH and Blue Arc Engineering Team provided high quality equipment that met the stringent design requirements on time and within budget!