Production Processes in Machine Engineering
There are a whole range of production processes in machine engineering factories that are characterized by high labor intensity or are carried out under challenging conditions.
Tiring Technological Operations
Such operations include contact spot and arc welding, servicing of presses, stamping and forging units, painting of large-sized products, the installation of rivets, and other similar tasks. During the execution of such technological actions, human physical capabilities often cannot ensure consistent and high-quality work.
Development of Robotics
In this regard, a new scientific and technical direction has emerged — robotics, which involves the creation of automatic manipulators with digital program control, known as industrial robots.
Robotics is a young science that has been actively developing for approximately the last forty years. In this field, active debates are taking place on many issues, and despite progress, there remain "white spots."
Examples of Robot Applications
Over the past few decades, many automatic machines have been developed that perform main technological operations. A vivid example is equipment for metalworking with numerical program control (CNC) and machining centers.
Modern CNC milling equipment is capable of manufacturing a part with complex shapes in a short time, which is physically impossible to achieve on a conventional manual machine tool or requires significant time expenditure.
Inequal Level of Automation
However, it is often observed that workpieces are manually set on such machines and finished parts are removed. This indicates an uneven level of automation in main and secondary production processes.
This "imbalance" negatively affects the development of comprehensive automation systems in small-batch and series machine manufacturing.
Solutions to the Automation Problem
The issue of automation is addressed through the activities of integration firms, which in Russia ensure the implementation of industrial robotic devices in technological processes even under conditions of limited funding. Many of these firms have demonstration halls and training classrooms where clients are provided with the necessary technical information.