Simply put, machine tending is the process of loading raw material into a CNC machine and unloading the finished part. The machinist tends the machine in order to keep it active as much as possible. This can be a boring and unfulfilling activity for machinists, considering how long a complicated part can take to machine. Automated machine tending is when a robot handles the loading and unloading processes, taking it off the machinist’s plate.
In most cases, machine tending involves loading and unloading products from grinders, lathes, and mills. Some only have to unload a barfed lathe, while others can automate the machining of multiple OP10/OP20 parts in a CNC mill. Some robots tend molds, and some even hold parts for welding. Automating your shop doesn’t have to be a complicated process – just a few robots with a small footprint handling the tedious jobs.
A robot fills the gaps in a CNC machinist’s job expectations. By automating this process, the machinist is freed up to focus on keeping the machine maintained and improving processes in the machine shop. A machine-tending robot can repeat the loading and unloading process indefinitely, a task that frequently leads to human injury; repetitive movements can cause strain and injury, leaving your machinist temporarily indisposed and your CNC machine untended.
Every business wants to maximize its efficiency. The best way to do that in your shop is to increase your CNC machine uptime and utilization and to decrease human error. People make mistakes. Sometimes they’re tired or distracted, and that causes damaged parts and lost profit. By eliminating loading and unloading machines from their responsibility, you can rest easy knowing the parts are all collected safely and your employees can focus on more skill-needing tasks.
