PLASTICS & INJECTION MOULDING  FANUC


and complexity to the existing system, we designed a self-contained industrial automation cell.” With all parties happy with this concept,


FANUC then simulated the cell on its proprietary ROBOGUIDE software and completed cycle time studies to determine the optimum robot model for the best price/performance ratio over the system’s lifetime. Mr Pointer said: “ROBOGUIDE allows us


  we needed a 1.8m reach and a 35kg payload to accommodate the actuation and sensors needed for a double-sided gripper, which led us to the M-20iD/35.”


FLEXIBILITY FOREMOST Flexibility was also an important consideration in this project as, although the contract was large, other work still needed to be kept on the  as Mr Pointer explained: “As the name suggests, with a three-axis


robot you have three axes of movement: up and down, left and right, forwards and backwards, so when the gripper comes down you can’t change the angle.


“A six-axis, in comparison, gives you full


rotation and therefore free movement. For the manufacture of plastic parts with over moulded inserts, this freedom of movement is invaluable, as precision and accuracy are key to successful production.”


MORALE BOOST While the new proposal seemed ideal, one problem with a change in approach at this stage was that the original cobot solution had already received capex approval. However, this concern


With a three-axis robot you have axes of movement: up and down, left and right, forwards and backwards


was soon assuaged when the new system came in at a similar cost, as well as giving Mitre Plastics six-axis robot capability and the option of re- tasking the three-axis robot elsewhere in the factory. Hurdles overcome, the cell was installed just before Christmas 2021, ready for production start-up in mid-2022. 


investment that supports the company’s ongoing commitment to technical development. It also demonstrated our commitment to the customer and gave them reassurance that we can take their requirements and translate them into a reliable 


SIX-AXIS RESERVATIONS Despite the company’s faith in FANUC, at the outset of the project Mitre Plastics harboured doubts over its ability to handle the six-axis robot. “We’d been aware of six-axis technology for


some years but were concerned that it was  have the necessary skills and that we would end up relying on external expertise,” said Dave Veal, technical manager at Mitre Plastics. However, Mr Veal is pleased to report  programming software has evolved; we’ve found it to be straightforward and logical. Plus, the


22 May 2023 Irish Manufacturing


assistance we’ve had from FANUC has been excellent – our engineers have been able to pick up the phone and get on-demand support whenever they’ve needed it. “What we have now is a better solution. We’re


 technology.”


GATE REMOVAL For Mitre Plastics there is a further advantage associated with using a six-axis robot on this application, relating to gate removal. A secondary operation performed by the three-axis robot had been the removal of gates (plastic left on the mould) using pneumatic cutting tools; however, this required several cutters set at different angles. 


when removing gates from products. Instead of having to use several different cutters set at different angles we can now offer the part to  terms of costs and changeover time,” said Mr Veal. “We would certainly consider FANUC for


any injection moulding or robotics project in the  three-axis robot technology when designing a general purpose cell.” Mr Breckon added: “We are always looking


to develop our capabilities through technology  includes pushing harder on the technology on and around the moulding machine to produce parts to  labour requirements.  the thinking around the machine and the more sophisticated the robot, the more we can do to remain competitive.”


FANUC www.fanuc.eu


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