Not exactly a robot, but sorta

Much of this stuff is custom made but there are some generic machines
out there for standard functions, like parts vibrators and sorters, etc.
Do a Google search for 'factory automation' and you'll turn up hundreds
of outfits that do this sort of thing.

-- Gordon

    Bodine Machine (http://www.bodine-machine.com ) will build an automated
assembly line for just about anything.  Take a look at how they do it.

    More specifically, there's Autobag (http://www.autobag.com ).
If it came in a little plastic bag, Autobag probably put it there.
They sell refurbished equipment.

    This is called "kitting" in the industrial world.  You can buy
kitting as an outsourced service.  This may be easier than building
an automated kitting system.

    The way this is usually done is with a dispenser for
each part, which dumps a part into a bin on command.  The bins
are on a turntable or conveyor, which advances from one dispenser
to the next.  When all the parts are in a bin, the bin is dumped
into a plastic bag, which is then heat-sealed.

    It's unusual to do kitting with a programmable robot, but it's
feasible.

                John Nagle

Well, I don't have the budget to go big time, not now at least.  But figured
finding the rights part I could easily program what I need.

I'd think carefully if you've not got the budget... these things cost
money for a reason. They'll eat a lot of your time and you'll have to
resolve the problems they have all over again.

Think about the variety of items you wish to "grab" or cut, the
differing shapes and tasks need differing approaches
sensing/counting/handling.

no doubt you can do this but it will need time and budget, one size
doesn't fit all. It's going to be easier to follow John or Gordon's
advice... buy custom or out source!

best regards,
colin

--

www.minisumo.org.uk

(Remove the "No Spam" to reply by email!)

I'm really not trying to make a machine that will make 10,000 bags an hout,
and not trying to build something super huge here.

You could even say that a part of me really wants to tinker with this,
badly!

So let me be clearer:

When I say I am looking for a robotic arm, I don't mean some massive thing,
or one that can turn in any 360 degree direction, etc. etc.

Surely there are hobby type kits?  That can be controlled via C?  I'mm
looking for stuff like that.

Thanks again,

It's back to google...

http://www.lynxmotion.com/Category.aspx?CategoryID '

I'm not sure how big you want to go but prices will start to rise
rapidly from here.

good luck with your project ;)

best regards,
colin

--

www.minisumo.org.uk

(Remove the "No Spam" to reply by email!)

The normal sequence for your kind of operation is something like this: You
start in your garage and build a customer base, and because you have a great
product, the demand increases, so you go to Goodwill and the like in your
community and contract out assembly and packaging, soon your demand grows
and you must cut costs so you contract a maquiladora along the border in
Mexico at a dollar an hour labor costs... which makes your product much more
affordable and you can make profits, so you start looking at automation and
China, and now you're up a really important decision. Bodine is a fabulous
solution to really high volume assembly, as are many of the off-the-shelf
robots. Also is the very cheap costs from China but you risk the knock-offs
once you reveal your manufacturing technology and Chinese marketing people
in the US.

My advice is to really study the chain of events which will allow you to
make your money work for you as you move from garage, to Salvation Army, to
Mexico, and back to your garage but with a fully automated system that will
not yield information to the Chinese. And be ready to beat their prices by
getting better and better with good old solid US technology.

Don't forget to check out the surplus market.

Here's one in Toronto that handles mostly automation stuff:
www.dnptechnologies.com

But almost any large city has one or more places dealing surplus.

DOC


Daniel Kaplan wrote:

    --FWIW I used to work for a small company that built assembly lines.
Haven't been able to find my old boss despite much googling as his name was
all too common. Anyway if you can, get hold of a character by the name of
Tom Nelson and he'll do it for you for less than someone like Snow
Manufacturing, which is the name of the biggie I remember from days of yore.
    --I made an automatic bag opening machine once for kitchen-table
enterpreneurs. Making a small production line that integrates simple
machines with human operators is an easy first step and you can do a lot
with pneumatics or simple electronics and limit switches.
    --A good place to see these things implemented is at trade shows.
You might want to check around in your neck of the woods and see if there
are any industrial shows coming to town. The two biggies are in Chicago and
Los Angeles. The LA show is coming up in March. Check out www.sme.org for more
details.

--
        "Steamboat Ed" Haas         :  One joy of middle age        
        Hacking the Trailing Edge!  :  is precision flatulence...
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