Three Things To know Before Getting Into Cobots - Rocketfarm

According to Nextmsc, the marked size of collaborative robots (cobots) was valued at 700.1 million dollars in . That’s a steady 109,6 million increase from the year before.
Therefore its no secret anymore, that cobots is becoming the main tool within many manufacturing facilities. It enables companies to utilize their resources more optimally with a relatively small investment, and furthermore – compete more aggressively within their chosen markets.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Fuxin Intelligent.

With the large pool of potential benefits, it is no wonder why so many decide to get into cobots. But this doesn’t mean that the investment is a no-brainer. In fact, there is more to it than you might think. Let’s take a look at three things to know before getting into cobots.

1. Cobots does not Guarantee a Safe Solution

The first thing you should know before getting into cobots, is that the use of a cobot solution is not necessarily always safe.

A quick google search will tell you that cobots are meant to be safe. Its robotic arm can work alongside employers with safe movement speeds, and stop if it were to hit someone. But even though this is true, the safety can drastically change when the robotic arms are equipped with tools.

Manufacturing

Within both additive and subtractive manufacturing, the tools used in welding or sanding can expose nearby operators to significant risk. In this situation, increased safety measures is therefore required to maintain the health and safety of the operators.

Product Handling

Another example could also be within product handling, specifically palletizing or depalletizing. In this case, the tools themselves may not add significant risk.

But the task often involves heavy lifting of products, sometimes in head height. If someone where to loose their focus one day and walk into an operating cobot, it can definitely have consequences.

Accidentally walking into a box that is being moved by a cobot is not an impossible scenario. That is why a proper safety assessment for your specific facility is necessary to ensure best practice and that safety measures is accounted for.

Read more about cobot palletizing here

2. Getting Effective Cobot Solutions Takes Time

Something that may be surprising for those perusing a cobot solution, is that it takes time to get an efficient and optimized solution up and running.

Time Well Spent

Reading about cobots, they are often referred to as efficient, flexible and secure. But unfortunately, cobot solutions don’t just pop up like a perfect dandelion on a sunny day in spring.

Those interested in a solution, will map out processes in their facilities and research potential areas that is suitable for such an automation.

They’ll create a vision for the investment, define goals and lay out a plan for how to integrate it.

Continuous improvement

Once the cobot is in place, the journey continues. It would be an exaggeration to believe that the solution is fully optimized by day one.

You are additionally likely to discover new challenges and opportunities as time goes by. This is the reason why you need to be patient and continue to find smaller improvements. Patience is actually what makes it the most efficient solution in the long term perspective.

A tool to ease the pain

Thankfully, there are tools available for making this process easier. MyRobot.cloud is the ultimate user-friendly platform designed to streamline your operations effortlessly.

Our innovative digital twin technology allows you to test your exact solution, enjoy substantial cost savings, and minimize downtime. By storing your digital twin in the cloud, your integrator can provide remote support, significantly reducing support costs and -time.

Use MyRobot.cloud to test and simulate new products and patterns using your stored digital twin. Verify new patterns in a few minutes without any downtime in production.

Program the cobot without prior knowledge of programming, using only information about your product specifications. The tool also allows for advanced editing to solve, optimize and improve potential palletizing issues, providing you with greater flexibility.

3. Implementing cobots require knowledge

The last thing to know before getting into cobots, is that it is not just any other plug & play solution. It actually – not surprisingly, require some knowledge to make it work well.

Learn from others – do your research

Investigate how your competitors or others have integrated cobots into their operations. Learn from their challenges and experience. Educate yourself about the technology you are considering, so you’ll get a feel for how it works. Map your internal processes, create a vision, define goals and make a plan for execution.

By doing this research, you’ll gather important knowledge you need to know before buying.

To get started, sign up to our newsletter and check out our free ebook. It is a great place to start learning about cobot solutions! It will give you insights into three different experiences from companies implementing cobots, about their challenges, lessons and benefits.

So why did I hire a robot? For the same reason I’ve done a lot of choices in the business: I don’t want to wear my people out.

Evan Lewis
CEO at Aegir Brewery

The flexible cobots makes no mistakes, unless
they are programmed for mistakes. One of our cobots have been working around the clock for two years, with no exceptions.

Knut Thomassen
Maskinpakking AS

Include your army

Once bought, you’ll have to make sure that the cobot solution is operational when needed.

Therefore you’ll need to train your employees on how to use it properly. We are not talking about how to navigate space with a rocket, but they will benefit greatly with introductory tips on how to make the cobot function.

Start by getting an introduction by the certified integrator. Then let your internal cobot experts shine, by letting them share their knowledge on how the cobot is operated efficiently and safely in your facilities.

This way you’ll secure having that knowledge present when needed.

Click here to learn 5 tips to prepare your employees for cobot automation

Gather your knowledge

If you have done any research on cobots prior to reading this article, you know about its promised ease of use and safety. We are not denying that they are easy to use and safe by itself – but when used with different tools and applications, the story changes.

For more collaborative robot palletizerinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

Within manufacturing and product handling, it is arguably safer for a cobot to do the dull, dirty and dangerous tasks rather than humans. But it’s not risk free, so make sure to do a proper safety assessment.

It will also take time to get an efficient cobot. The journey will continue after installation, where employees needs to be trained, experience needs to be experienced and new possibilities may open up in the future.

Finally, make the necessary preparations for implementing a cobot, by gathering important knowledge while including your entire company in the process. A great start, is to check out our ebook here.

Feel free to contact us and talk more about palletizing, if you’re interested in implementing cobot palletizing in your facilities. Alternatively, you can also subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated and learn more about cobot palletizing.

Collaborative robots, or cobots, have transformed various industries with their ability to work alongside humans to enhance efficiency, increase productivity, and remove repetitive tasks. Palletizing is one of the key applications leveraging cobots, streamlining the process of arranging and stacking goods on pallets for packaging. However, like any technology, cobots are susceptible to errors, and palletizing operations and production lines can face challenges if not implemented and managed correctly. 

In this blog post, we will explore some common mistakes and provide solutions on how to avoid them to ensure a successful robotic palletizing process.

1. Lack of Proper Planning:

One of the fundamental mistakes in automating palletizing is a lack of thorough planning. Before implementing a solution, analyze your workflow, load characteristics, assembly line, and overall system requirements. This includes understanding the products you will palletize, along with their dimensions and features, as well as the factory footprint and any timeline or support expectations.

Solution: Avoid choosing the first company you encounter. Instead, base your decision on a 360-evaluation of their offering from pre-to-post sale. Engage your subject matter experts to plan the integration of a cobot palletizer into your existing production. To guide your experts in finding the right solutions, be sure to consider the variety of options available, such as turnkey options, self-deploy systems, or modular and custom systems.

To help you choose the correct palletizer for your operation, check out our blog post:
8 steps to selecting the right cobot palletizer.

2. Inadequate End-of-Arm Tooling (EOAT):

Choosing the wrong end-of-arm tooling is a common mistake that can significantly impact the efficiency of robotic palletizing operations. Inadequate grippers or rigid tooling that fails to adapt to varying product shapes and sizes may lead to dropped or misaligned items, causing disruptions and slowing down the entire process.

Solution: Select modular end-of-arm tooling hardware that is versatile and adaptable to various product types and sizes. Grippers with adjustable features or those designed for specific product shapes can enhance the cobot’s ability to handle diverse palletizing. Be sure to talk with your expert(s) to find either standard or custom grippers that would fit all of your product types. 

On the Vention platform, there are many modular EOAT components available. Use the filters to search based on your requirements, or chat with our team to select the correct EOAT for you.

3. Insufficient Training and Programming:

Improper training and programming can lead to errors in cobot palletizing. This includes insufficiently defined paths, inaccurate positioning, and failure to adapt to changes in the environment. Without proper programming, cobots may struggle to efficiently navigate and execute the palletizing task.

Solution: There are many programming solutions on the market, but most have a high barrier to entry and require years of experience. Instead, if you are just beginning with automation or looking for a simpler solution, we recommend utilizing a no-code programming environment to configure and operate your machine. MachineApps is a user-friendly interface that enables those of all skill levels to learn how to configure, program, and operate a palletizer through step-by-step instructions. Experience just how easy it is. Try Vention’s Pallet Configurator tool today. 

Even with an intuitive and easy-to-use solution, training is a vital asset to set your team up for success. Vention offers both in-person and virtual training designed to provide teams with the practical skills and knowledge to become automation experts.

4. Neglecting Safety Measures:

Safety is paramount in any industrial setting, and cobots are no exception. Neglecting safety measures can lead to accidents, injuries, and damage to equipment. Cobots are designed to work safely alongside humans, but failure to implement proper safety protocols can pose significant risks.

Solution: Prioritize safety by implementing safety-rated sensors, protective barriers, and clearly defined work zones for cobots and humans. When designing or purchasing a Vention cobot palletizer solution, we will suggest safety devices such as e-stop modules, light curtains, safety panels, and more. Vention’s controller, MachineMotion, also has safety features built into the technology, so you don’t have to do the coordination yourself. The full safety ecosystem is assessed as per ISO -1/-2, ensuring that safety is a top priority.

In addition, regularly conduct safety assessments and provide training on safety protocols for all personnel working with or around cobots. When deploying your first cobot cell, here are five safety standards you should know. 

5. Ignoring Regular Maintenance:

Similar to any machinery, cobots require regular maintenance to ensure optimal performance. Ignoring routine maintenance can lead to unexpected breakdowns, increased downtime, and a decline in robotic palletizing efficiency.

Solution: Establish a regular maintenance schedule for the cobot and its associated equipment. This includes inspecting the robot’s joints, sensors, and end-of-arm tooling. Address any issues promptly and perform software updates to keep the cobot operating at its best.

For 24/7 monitoring of the performance and health of your cobot palletizer, MachineAnalytics provides you with detailed insights and historical data. This groundbreaking remote monitoring technology allows you to catch issues before they lead to unexpected downtime, saving you time, resources, and costs. 

6. Failure to Optimize Workflows:

Cobots are most effective when seamlessly integrated into optimized workflows. Failure to analyze and optimize the entire palletizing process, from product placement to palletizing patterns, can result in suboptimal efficiency and increased cycle times.

Solution: Implement intelligent software to configure your palletizer cobot and adjust palletizing patterns based on real-time data. It will help you optimize the layout of the production area to minimize the palletizing cobot’s travel distances and maximize its productivity.

Vention’s Pallet Configurator tool is an all-in-one pallet builder solution to configure, program, and operate your palletizer to exact specifications. In just a few easy steps, you have a fully operational palletizer that is optimized for your needs. 

7. Overlooking Communication and Connectivity:

In a modern industrial setting, connectivity is key. Cobots must seamlessly communicate with machines, sensors, and the central control system. Overlooking communication protocols and connectivity requirements can hinder the overall efficiency of the robotic palletizing process.

Solution: Ensure that the cobot is integrated into the broader communication network of the production facility. Use standardized communication protocols to enable seamless data exchange between the cobot and other devices. Ensuring proper communication between stations, whether it’s a pallet wrapper following the palletizer robot or a conveyor system preceding it, is essential.

Vention’s MachineMotion is a plug & play motion controller that bridges the gap between the cloud and the factory floor. Certified to Canadian, US, and European standards, MachineMotion includes control modular, code-free software, open-source development, and more.

8. Underestimating Payload and Reach Limits:

Each cobot model has a specific payload and reach limits. Exceeding these limits can result in mechanical stress, reduced accuracy, and potential damage to the robot. Underestimating the importance of staying within these limits is a common mistake in robotic automated palletizing operations.

Solution: Thoroughly understand the payload and reach capabilities of the cobot model being used. Design palletizing tasks within these specifications to ensure optimal performance and longevity of the robot. If necessary, consider upgrading to a cobot with a higher payload or adding a robot 7th axis for increased reach capacities to meet evolving production needs.

With Vention’s range of cobot palletizer solutions, we have a solution for most payload and reach requirements. If we do not, our team is able to easily create a custom solution to match your unique requirements. 

* Video at 2x speed

Conclusion:

Cobot palletizing offers a range of benefits, including enhanced efficiency, flexibility, and precision. However, avoiding common mistakes is crucial to harnessing the full potential of collaborative robots in palletizing operations. By prioritizing proper planning, safety measures, maintenance, and more, you can optimize your robotic palletizing processes and enhance overall productivity. 

If you are looking at adding an industrial robot palletizer, many of these common mistakes also apply. With continuous advancements in automation technology, staying informed about best practices and evolving solutions is essential for achieving sustainable success in the dynamic landscape of industrial automation and manufacturing.

Additional palletizer resources: 
8 Steps to Selecting the Right Cobot Palletizer
7 Advantages of Automating Palletizing
Mastering the Basics: Palletizing 101

For more information, please visit industrial palletizing robot.