CFM Robotics has grown into a highly regarded enterprise with 23 years of experience in creating turnkey solutions. Recently, the Québec-based company has shifted to a DIY platform to provide support and resources for self-starters and industry innovators who have a thirst for a first-hand understanding of cutting-edge technology. With the explosion of the DIY movement, CFM Robotics saw an exciting opportunity to expand into this new type of partnership. After all, coming up with new programming possibilities is what we do. Here’s how our new DIY-Robotics platform can increase your company’s profit, and give you the edge in the new age of automation.

Reduce your maintenance and repair expenses with ideas for in-house solutions

Robotic work cells are cost-effective, given that they do not need major infrastructure changes once they are set up. Simplified programming and guided support allow your company to operate as autonomous as your machinery. DIY-Robotics provides you and your company with everything you need from product reviews to programming solutions to keep you and your technology running efficiently and help you utilize all of your work cell’s features.

Ideas for flexibility in function and utility

Make your robotic cells work for you. Produce several products in the same cell and with less expense with easily reconfigured cell options. We’ll show you how to redeploy units in your production line for multiple purposes so you don’t end up spending money on additional units. Turn your business into a “lights-out” factory by configuring your units to work around the clock.

Save money with our free online support

Take advantage of CFM Robotics’ more than 23 years of experience. We are a community of talented programmers, engineers, and certified integrators who love talking about robotics and who take great pleasure in building solid relationships with our customers. We are privileged to count among our resources the valuable personal qualities of our employees in addition to their noteworthy technical abilities. Respect, pleasure in our work, rigorous diligence, and creativity are some examples of what we bring to work every day and what you can expect from our support team.

DIY-Robotics is a place to talk programming, share ideas and solutions, and work together to build amazing things. It is our ever-growing network of resources, professionals and experts to help you with all of your robotic and automation needs.

Enable robotization at an affordable price

Each robotic cell is optimized for function and efficiency, so they are easy to maintain and deploy. Our cells are pre-engineered, pre-secured and pre-programmed, meaning that our customers get a worry-free installation that reduces downtime and production interruptions. Our cells include pre-integrated electronics and pneumatic panels, so say “ good-bye ” to tedious routing and flow mapping. Save money by making smart decisions and getting the cell that works right for you at each stage of production.

Avoiding the complications when a break occurs

In the event of a mechanical breakdown, robotic units can be easily moved along the production line by simply relocating the cell. Unlike anchored robots, robotic cells allow for customizable and adaptable configurations and tasks. Our interchangeable cells can prevent production halts or slowdowns, which can be costly to you and your customers. Don’t forget that you always have access to our free online support. No need for you to outsource; all of the support and resources you need are at diy-robotics.com.

In many ways, DIY-Robotics will benefit your business and increase your profit margins and returns-on-investment. For more information, read our e-book in which we explain all the advantages of working with our team to design and build the best robotic cell for you and your company’s needs.

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Robotic cells are complete systems that house your robot, controller, and other essentials like positioners. Your robot cell also ensures the safety of your employees and protects your investment. Efficiency, precision, and reliability are of paramount importance. So, before you start integrating, consider the following five tips for programming your FANUC integrated work cell to ensure that it provides you with the maximum potential benefits.

Take the time to think carefully about the programming structure

Your programming structure will follow you throughout the programming process of the various applications of the cell. Taking the time to set it up correctly before you start programming could save you a lot of time and trouble in the future. Setting up a pseudo-code structure can help you to think about the logical flow of events and can give you a framework when you start writing the actual code. A flowchart or process diagram can also be very useful for visualizing the routine your robot will execute. Save yourself some time and troubleshooting later by sketching out your programming structure in advance and making sure all workers are familiar with the routine.

Set the robot’s working tools correctly using “Tool Frames”

FANUC’s “Tool Frames” allow programmers to plot the robot’s movement in a Cartesian coordinate system. The reference point, also called the Tool Center Point (TCP), is set by one of several methods, and all other positions are referenced relative to the TCP. The operator defines the TCP using one of four common methods : the three-point method, six-point method, direct entry, or two-point + Z method. With three-point and six-point methods, the TCP is defined by setting the robot tool to different reference positions. The direct entry method, just as it sounds, allows the programmer to enter the TCP coordinates manually. The 2-point + Z method uses two reference points to determine x and y coordinates but lets the user define the height of the tool. Be sure to enter the weight and inertia characteristics of the robot hand because this data plays a role in correctly determining the robot path and can speed up the cycle time when input correctly.

Do not try to “patch” a programming problem

When a problem arises in programming, a patch may provide a workaround and often appeals to users as a convenient and low-maintenance fix. However, patches may not address the underlying causes of errors that can persist and manifest themselves in other areas. Before applying a patch, check to see if you can identify the source of the error. Double-check all relevant settings, values, and the programming structure itself. A little work on the front end can save lots of time and energy later when you may have to hunt down and fix numerous instances of an error that has propagated throughout lengthy segments of code.

Plan Ahead

You can eliminate many programming problems before you even get your robot set up. Programmers can get very creative with their coding. However, if they are spending a lot of time finding innovative solutions to make a robot do something it wasn’t designed for, the problem isn’t a programming one. In this case, it may be a problem with the type of robot you’re using. Take the time to think carefully about the processes you want to robotize before making a purchasing decision. Work with your team, plan, and choose the best robot for your automation needs. If you need assistance, DIY-Robotics offers free consultations to help you decide on the right robot or cell. This way, you can avoid complications that reduce productivity and throughput by taking a robot out of the automation flow.

Free Programming Libraries and Forums

No matter what you need to program, it’s always a good idea to look for existing libraries and free resources. These reservoirs of pre-existing, tested code can make your job a lot easier. The programming community is a helpful one. If someone has come across a problem and found a useful solution, chances are, it has been posted somewhere. Check the top forums, like the FANUC forums on Robot-Forum.com and DIY-Robotic.com. Search on GitHub or in training resources. And don’t overlook programming solutions in different languages or for other products. The physics and engineering principles that govern robots are the same, so the answer to your problem may be universal.

At DIY Robotics, it is important to provide you with all the resources you need to execute your project effectively. We hope, among other things, that these three tips will be useful. Find all the details related to the complete process of a DIY Robotics project, using Fanuc robots, by consulting our Build Your Cell guide.

Are you feeling left behind by the Industry 4.0 revolution? You may be considering how automation might benefit your business. In this article, we will look at what you need to consider before automating your processes, and the benefits to your company should you choose to automate.

Efficiency

Bill Gates said, “The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency.” We’re going to assume you run an efficient process, and in that case, according to one of the richest men in the world, automation is only going to make things better. A more efficient process means more time and material saved. This translates into money saved, which is what you need to be thinking about when considering any changes to your process flow.

Safety

Automation used to refer only to software-automation. These days, however, automation and auto-motion are synonymous. Put smart machinery in charge of dangerous or repetitive tasks, and the savings in terms of worker safety and health are well worth the cost. Automation can reduce the number of incidents of workplace injuries from one-time events and repetitive-stress-related causes. It can protect clients and consumers as well, preventing your company from enduring expensive litigation fees and settlements. The automation process ensures a higher degree of precision in assembly and reduces the number of faulty or poorly manufactured parts.

Loss Prevention

With labor shortages affecting many businesses, automation can be an ideal solution. Mechanically assisted assembly lines greatly cut down on the number of employees needed to perform a task. Robot analogs to human workers can often complete a larger variety of tasks than their living counterparts. This can cut down on training, human bottlenecks in the production flow, and errors associated with multi-tasking. Sick days, holidays and general fatigue can impact productivity with humans. This is not the case, however, when you have adopted automation. Automated businesses experience more consistency in their product, fewer interruptions to workflow, and overall greater satisfaction from clients.

Increased production: 24-hour/lights-out factories

With automated assemblies and factories, businesses can now run operations with reduced operational costs all around the clock. Production doesn’t have to stop at 5 o’clock. So-called lights-out factories can run on their own with minimal human intervention. Sensors and adaptive programming allow the system to alter production variables independently of human operators. Every interconnected machine can respond to delays or modifications made by one part of the network.

Integrated assembly

Integrate your whole production line with automation. This doesn’t just mean the machines and industrial robots in one facility either. Multiple buildings and sites can be connected and can share information. Jobs can be rescheduled, delayed, or advanced by an algorithm that determines the most efficient order. Eliminate or reduce the need for fussy Gantt charts or other project management nightmares. Automation can take care of much of this for you.

Considerations and questions

Before you get too far in looking into whether automation is right for your business, there are a few things you should consider. What process(es) do you want to automate? Will automation continue to be the best option in the long-term? Would your company be relying too much on automation, making it difficult or impossible for humans to intervene when necessary?

Consider the return on investment and other logistics should before choosing to automate your business. Remember Bill Gates’s second rule of technology used in business: automation can make an inefficient system even worse. So, make sure your company is already set up in a way that will facilitate, and be facilitated by, an automation upgrade.

Written by: B.A. Durham

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