Process
Efficient, Reliable and Flexible: WEFAG AG Automates CNC Machine Tending with OnRobot
I
n order to continuously deliver Swiss-quality results to its clients, WEFAG AG does not only invest in new CNC machines, but also relies on a collaborative application featuring the 3FG15 gripper developed by OnRobot to tend CNC machines. This makes it possible for the Swiss family-owned company to meet extremely short delivery times and smaller batch sizes confidently, while also reducing the workload of employees, who can now focus on more demanding tasks. Thanks to its three customizable fingertips, the 3FG15 precisely handles parts of different shapes and sizes. WEFAG AG was increasingly facing a high mix/ low volume production challenge, mainly sparked by changes in client demands. “We are now, very often dealing with extremely short delivery times and smaller batch sizes,” explains Damian Hediger, Managing Director of WEFAG AG. “Process reliability must be guaranteed – for all components.” When machining workpieces with CNC machines, both absolute positioning accuracy and repeatability are crucial.
18 | IMDQ |
Q1 2022
WEFAG AG offers its clients a wide range of CNC machining services in an almost unlimited variety and combination of materials. The components go through various machining steps within the CNC machines, including turning, milling, drilling, vibratory finishing, assembly, refining and the final machining of the workpieces. At WEFAG, an employee would spend the entire day placing workpieces in a machine and removing them, which made the company look for a way to make its production processes more efficient. After much research and consideration, the company finally decided to automate and developed a collaborative application consisting of a Doosan robot and a three-fingered 3FG15 OnRobot gripper.
Flexible Gripper Needed to Load and Unload the Machine Due to the limited space between CNC machines at the production facility, WEFAG was faced with another challenge: the process had to be automated in the most space-saving
