• August 13, 2022
  • Machine Tools
  • Cutting Tools
  • Software
  • Metrology
  • Accessories
  • Mechatronics
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • REGISTER
  • SIGN IN
www.cnctimes.com logo
  • News
  • CT+
  • Webinar
  • Knowledge Center
    • INDUSTRY UPDATES
    • INTERVIEWS
    • VIDEOS
    • TECHNICAL ARTICLES
    • CASE STUDIES
    • PRODUCT SHOWCASE
    • BLOGS
    • SUCCESS STORIES
    • NEWSLETTERS
  • Start Your Subscription
  • Register
  • Sign in

Information

Please login to give the feedback.

Subscription Plans

Subscription Type
Duration
Months
News
Articles
Blogs
Case Studies
Videos
Product Updates
Webinar
Amount
CT
Lifetime
Lifetime
Full Access
Limited Access
Full Access
Limited Access
Limited Access
Limited Access
No Discount
INR 0.00
CT+
6 Months
6 Months
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
5% Discount
INR 599.00
CT+
Annual
12 Months
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
10% Discount
INR 999.00

Subscription Plans

Subscription Type
Duration
Months
News
Articles
Blogs
Case Studies
Videos
Product Updates
Webinar
Amount
CT
Lifetime
Lifetime
Full Access
Limited Access
Full Access
Limited Access
Limited Access
Limited Access
No Discount
INR 0.00
CT+
6 Months
6 Months
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
5% Discount
INR 599.00
CT+
Annual
12 Months
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
Full Access
10% Discount
INR 999.00
Successfully registered. Please check your email to activate account.

Registration
  • Sign In



Sorry Captcha Unsuccessful!!

Sign In


OR
If your not registered user first Register
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Finished component in 37 seconds, ABB robots way

Finished component in 37 seconds, ABB robots way

17 March, 2015
  • Tweet
  • share via email
Your comment has been posted.
We have sent you a verification email. To verify, just follow the link in the message.
Some technical error. Please try again.

By Niraj M Wanikar, Chief Editor, CNCTimes.com, 2015-03-17 10:58:36

From a sheet metal blank to a finished component in just 37 seconds – made possible by the new ABB robots in the Wolfsburg factory of German automotive supplier KWD Automobiltechnik GmbH.

Installed in eight welding cells, these robots produce wheel housings, sills and A-pillars for a German car manufacturer. The roll-up door of the welding cell opens almost silently. A KWD employee places several sheet metal blanks into the fixture of a turntable along with another part that has already had adhesive robotically applied in a previous step.

The employee then closes the door, activating the welding process. A turntable inside the welding cell positions the blanks in front of two ABB IRB 6640 industrial robots which make several spot welds, firmly joining the blanks together. Another IRB 6640 removes the joined part and positions it under a stationary welding gun which makes further spot welds. Finally, the component is moved underneath a scriber for marking.

This entire process takes only seconds until the finished wheel housing is ready to be removed from the cell.

Welding car parts at high speeds, KWD Automobiltechnik GmbH, Germany

Fast and compact

In addition to wheel housings, the automotive supplier KWD Automobiltechnik GmbH produces A-pillars and sills for a new model of a well-known German car manufacturer. Realizing they needed a new solution to meet the demands of their customer, KWD had rather stringent requirements for cycle times between parts.

“The necessary parts could not be produced with our existing equipment. This project earned ABB an ‘A plus’,” says Mr Guido Wittenberg, who is responsible for the technical planning at KWD.

Explains KWD production manager Mr Randy Koch, describing why the company invested in eight new automated welding cells, “The process from loading the blanks to the finished component, for instance, could not take longer than 37 seconds at each station.” Thanks to intensive simulations carried out in advance, ABB engineers were able to guarantee this cycle time.

Mr Wittenberg, who is responsible for the technical planning at KWD, adds, “On an average, the other suppliers’ concepts were 10% slower than our specification. In addition, space is restricted in our production halls and the space-saving design of the ABB robotic cells came in very handy for us.”

A total of 20 ABB IRB 6640 robots, and one ABB IRB 2600 robot, are now working in the four new plants. Safety features such as access control, enclosures, light barriers and roll-up doors were also supplied and installed by ABB. As the system supplier, ABB was responsible for the planning, design, manufacture, delivery, assembly and commissioning of the plants.

Millimeter accuracy with ABB software

“As an automotive supplier we have to stick to very tight tolerances,” says Koch, highlighting the precision of the machines.

The IRB 6640 robots have no trouble meeting the strict requirements for handling and welding processes. The powerful IRC5 robot controller allows them to work with sub-millimeter precision, meaning the welds are on exactly the same spot, on every part, every time.

In addition, the controller monitors the robots’ internal loads, reducing the risk of overload situations and extending the lifetime of the robots. “With regard to service and maintenance cost, this was a very important argument for us,” stresses Wittenberg.

Six weeks to the first component

Given that ABB represents the third robot manufacturer to have a presence in the factory, the operating personnel were particularly skeptical at first.

“For our colleagues this meant an increased initial training effort and an adaptation phase,” explains Wittenberg. However, by providing comprehensive theoretical and practical training, ABB ensured a short transition. “The short implementation time was impressive,” says Koch. “From delivery of the equipment to production of the first component it took only six weeks.”

  • Follow @CNCTimes

Captcha is required.
Sorry Captcha Unsuccessful!!

Latest News

  • 13 August, 2022

    Siemens' digital-native CNC platform at IMTS

  • 13 August, 2022

    MOM software market to reach USD 39.53 Bn by 2031: TMR Study

  • 13 August, 2022

    New enhancements to Thomson online ball screw configuration tool

  • 13 August, 2022

    Digi-Key Electronics now stocks blueshift RockeTape™ thermal insulation tapes

  • 13 August, 2022

    Experience 360° performance for your production at Heller booth

  • 13 August, 2022

    Metrios helps in optical measurement on the shopfloor

  • 13 August, 2022

    ABB to acquire Siemens low voltage NEMA motor business

  • 12 August, 2022

    Right Tool for CNC Technology

  • 12 August, 2022

    Flexible automation with TruLaser Station 7000 from Trumpf

  • 12 August, 2022

    Autodesk open sources RV to democratize access and drive open standards

  • 12 August, 2022

    Process Sensors IR Temperature Measurement offers precision pyrometer

  • 12 August, 2022

    True IntelliCAD 11.0 Released

  • 12 August, 2022

    BRP to acquire the Shawinigan operations of Kongsberg Inc

  • 12 August, 2022

    Covalent Metrology offers Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) services

  • 11 August, 2022

    TeamViewer and Siemens to innovate in the Product Lifecycle Management space

  • 11 August, 2022

    Softing introduces OPC UA-based OT/IT integration solution with MQTT connection

  • 11 August, 2022

    Rockwell Automation releases photoelectric sensors for global applications

  • 11 August, 2022

    Nordson Corporation to acquire CyberOptics Corporation, expanding its inspection capabilities

  • 11 August, 2022

    Supermini toolholder set from Horn

  • 11 August, 2022

    Reduced manufacturing process time thanks to new hybrid solution available

  • 11 August, 2022

    Stratasys to acquire Covestro’s additive manufacturing materials business

Previous Next

Related News

  • 10 August, 2022

    Magnetic wheeled robot capable of traveling over curved steel surfaces

    Category: Mechatronics
  • 09 August, 2022

    Mitsubishi Electric Automation releases Servo and Motion Economy Solutions

    Category: Mechatronics
  • 08 August, 2022

    Innodisk Announces Launch of Edge AI SSDs

    Category: Mechatronics
  • 05 August, 2022

    FourJaw 2.0-The Next Generation Of Accessible Manufacturing Analytics Technology

    Category: Mechatronics
  • 04 August, 2022

    Microchip introduces new CXL™ Smart Memory Controllers

    Category: Mechatronics
  • 03 August, 2022

    Datanomix, Flexxbotics partner to automate production monitoring for Universal Robots

    Category: Mechatronics
  • 02 August, 2022

    ABB launches five axes Delta robot fastest for lightweight product picking

    Category: Mechatronics
  • 01 August, 2022

    Bringing CodeMeter protection and licensing power to the embedded world

    Category: Mechatronics

TESTIMONIALS VIEW MORE

By Niraj M Wanikar, Chief Editor, CNCTimes.com, 2019-11-19 17:57:22We would like to express our sincere appreciation for your service to us.You have provided us best marketing platform through CNCTime...

Mr.Adil Atar, Ass.Mng.Technical Sales & Service: Precision Machinekraft

By Niraj M Wanikar, Chief Editor, CNCTimes.com, 2016-10-21 09:00:00Dedication and determination is key to success and CNC Times team is evident to it - FARO Business Technologies (I) Pvt Ltd

Ms. Amrita Gokhale , FARO Business Technologies

By Niraj M Wanikar, Chief Editor, CNCTimes.com, 2016-08-25 00:00:00Seminar was really very good, please let us know about future seminars. we would like to attend the seminar on "Machining of the mate...

Roshan Deshmukh, Design Engineer - Ashvini Magnets Private Limited

FOLLOW US

TECHNOLOGY FOCUS

    Machine Tools

    • CNC Lathe
    • Boring Machines
    • Drilling Machines
    • Spark Erosion
    • Wire Cut
    • Vertical Machining Centers - VMC
    • Horizontal Machining Centers - HMC
    • Grinding Machines
    • Gear Cutting Machines
    • Additive Manufacturing - RP
    • Multi-Axis Machines
    • Multi-Tasking Machines
    • Welding Machines
    • Presses
    • Laser Cutting
    • Others
    • IIoT

    Metrology

    • CMM
    • VMM ( Vision Measuring Machines )
    • PCMM ( Portable CMM )
    • Measuring Instruments
    • Probing Technology
    • 3D Scanners
    • Roundness Measurement
    • Surface Roughness Measurement
    • Contour Measuring Machines
    • Others

    Accessories

    • Workholding
    • Toolholders
    • Spindles
    • Coolants
    • Others

    Software

    • CAD
    • CAM
    • CAE
    • ERP
    • Inspection Software
    • Reverse Engineering Software
    • MES
    • Others

    Mechatronics

    • Robotics
    • Automation
    • CNC Controllers
    • Others

    Cutting Tools

    • Turning Tools
    • Milling Tools
    • Grinding Wheels
    • Drilling
    • Others

INDUSTRY VERTICALS

  • General
  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Healthcare
  • Healthcare Engineering
  • FMCG
  • Consumer Durable
  • Defence
  • Electronics
  • Oil & Gas
  • Heritage
  • Heavy Engineering
  • Die & Mold
  • Plastic
  • Footwear
  • Jobshop

PROFILE

  • About us
  • Contact us

Terms of use

  • Privacy Policy
  • Payment Policy
  • Refund Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Follow us on:

Download CNCTimes App:

Play Store
2022 © www.cnctimes.com  | Payment Policy   |   Terms and Conditions
Developed & Maintained by Deven Infotech