May - 20208 MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY INSIGHTSLeveraging Automation for Enhancing Manufacturing ProcessesBy Ron Gulbransen, Technical Product Manager, Auxiliaries Advanced Plastics Processing Technologies, Milacron [NYSE:MCRN]Higher output and boosted productivity are two of the biggest reasons in justifying the use of automation. Thesegoals can be carried out into injection molding and extrusion automation through Milacron's proprietary Mosaic + control system, connected and providing the transfer of information back and forth to auxiliary equipment. Milacron provides automation cells that make production faster, robust and more reliable, while reducing the workload for the operator through innovative concepts and project scopes unique to the industry. The Future of Managing Automation through a Robust Control SystemThere are numerous opportunities and advantages to setting up a full work cell with specialized jobs for robotics including assembly. In-mold decoration/labeling, dispensing and sealing, machine tending, palletizing and post mold packaging, painting and decorating, insert loading, and part transfer among other tasks that can be achieved. The ability to manage the work cell from a single point location through the Milacron Mosaic + Control provides a reduction of operator setup time, ease of cell operation, and a reduction in the possibility of human error, as robotic programs can be saved with mold files on the Mosaic + Control to ensure that both mold file and robotics program match the process being run at any given time.Mosaic + is intelligent and has the capability to implement programming for seamless automation. When a mold is loaded into an injection molding machine, the controllercan recognize it. Milacron will eventually streamline this process to recognize the robots teach pendant and auxiliary equipment settings for the work cell such as dryers, barrel heating bands, mold gate controllers, and more are in development. This process would reduce any potential errors that many have experienced with an operator computing each component manually; but also saves time in configuring and programming each piece every time the mold is removed and replaced for a new part.For extrusion, much of the actual process is hands on. Unlike injection molding, thermoforming, and other processes, which can easily be automated from raw beginning to finished end, custom extrusion often involves manual touching and forming. However, many trivial and in-line processes for extrusions can be automated, and this is rising within the industry. Services such as embossing, laminating, punching, welding, bar coding, printing, notching, and packaging lend themselves well to automation, allowing these to be offered more and more as value-added services. Automation components and auxiliary equipment added to an extrusion system can increase the size of the machine. Providing an operator's view and control to every facet of the work cell is more valuable if all the settings are routed through one control system on the operator's side.Robot SelectionWhen choosing a robot, the application criteria of the extrusion, injection molding processor parts being produced will influence the reach and payload required of the robot selection. IN MY OPINION
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