Advantages:
  • Unmanned change over to different parts
  • Lean Manufacturing
  • Small lot sizes
  • Improves organization

Automation Method:
Using Wila hydraulic clamping the robot can send a command to the press brake to clamp or unclamp the tools. The punches stay in place because of the safety pin, but can be slid down the machine and off the end. Dies can be lifted out without being slid down.

Tools need to have holes EDMed into them. The robot uses the holes and a special gripper to set or remove the tools.

If there is a large inventory of tools, an additional robot is used in a storage system.