When it comes to custom injection molding, the implementation of injection robot arms and automation processes have proven to increase throughput, reduce cycle times, reduce scrap, and improve both part quality and total savings in general. Although an upfront investment in automation is often required, the advantages have proven to be worth the investment. Automation can be used during the injection process to remove parts from the molds, placing inserts or metal components into a molding machine for the insert or over molding process. They are used in the secondary operations for assembly, packaging, part-trimming, degating, drilling and sorting. It is virtually impossible to ignore the reality that injection robot arm automation is changing the face of custom injection molding.
Injection robot arms and robotics are programmed to carry out specific repetitive actions without variation. These actions are predictable due to programmed routines that specify the direction, deceleration, acceleration, velocity and distances. Injection robot arm perform these actions with profoundly successful levels of accuracy. Often injection robot arm operations will use precise guidance and have the ability to adapt to different part-types using intelligence-based features.
Proper utilization of available injection robot arms allows manufacturers to achieve specific levels of flexibility to multitask a variety of functions for lower volume applications. Incorporated in the injection robot arm is end-of-arm tooling which is made to match the product being handled, these are used to removal parts from the injection mold, sprue pickers to separate runners from parts and other functions.