High-mix, low-volume CNC environments demand automation that can adjust as quickly as your schedule changes without adding complexity. Constant changeovers, manual adjustments, and inconsistent part handling don't just slow you down; they quietly erode the real ROI of machine tending automation.
AWR removes those bottlenecks by enhancing our Flex Series Drawer Cell with OnRobot's heavy-duty 3FG25 electric gripper as its standard part handling solution. The result is CNC automation that's easier to run, more reliable shift after shift, and flexible to keep up with real-world job shop and production needs.
The Challenge: Pneumatic Gripping Slowed Changeovers
In CNC machine tending applications, traditional pneumatic grippers introduced limitations that became more pronounced in high-mix production. As Tyler This, Mechanical Product Design Engineer at AWR, puts it, “pneumatic grippers often deliver an ‘all-or-nothing’ stroke and force, with no finger position feedback, and frequently require complex custom fingers to avoid marking delicate parts.”
Those issues translated into longer downtime, greater labor involvement, and inconsistent results during changeovers — making it harder for manufacturers to keep machines cutting, operators focused, and operations running efficiently.
The Solution: Standardizing on OnRobot's 3FG25 Heavy-Duty Electric Grippers
To better support high-mix CNC lathe tending, AWR standardized electric gripping as part of its next-generation machine tending strategy. By moving away from multiple pneumatic grippers and adopting a single electric end-of-arm tooling (EoAT) strategy, grip force and stroke could be adjusted digitally rather than mechanically. This shift simplified automation by reducing system complexity and making part changeover more predictable across a wide range of part families.
Results: Greater Flexibility and More Reliable Part Handling
After implementing electric gripping, AWR saw immediate improvements in part handling consistency and flexibility. Part picks became more reliable, finished parts experienced less marking, and operators could move between part families with fewer manual adjustments. For manufacturers, this translates into CNC machine tending automation that is easier to maintain and better suited to changing production schedules.
Why It Matters: Simplifying CNC Automation for Real Production Runs
This switch reinforces a core principle behind Automation Within Reach's approach to CNC machine tending: automation should reduce complexity, not add to it. By standardizing with OnRobot's 3FG25 heavy-duty electric grippers, AWR's Flex Series Drawer Cell delivers flexible, accessible automation solutions designed for manufacturing environments where uptime, consistency, and ease of use matter every day. Reach out to our automation team about your CNC automation challenges, and we'll work with you to find the right solution for your production needs.
