The automation and robotic forces at American Manufacturing continue to grow. At the end of last year, we introduced cobots to our welding workforce. Now we’ve added another layer of automation to the manufacturing process with our new Trumpf Robotic Bending Cell.

What is a Bending Cell?

A robotic bending cell combines a standalone brake press with both a toolmaster and a robotic arm that moves parts through the process. The toolmaster automatically feeds the punch and die into the cell without any human interaction. Then, the robot picks up parts off of pallets within the cell and bends them. The robotic arm then sets them onto an off-load pallet or into a bin. While Trumpf is not the only manufacturer of bending cells, we chose to go with Trumpf because their entire technology platform is simply top-notch.

This machine is so highly automated that it can run on its own for 24 hours a day without stopping — so long as it has enough parts to keep going, of course! The robotic element of the bending cell has a weighing capability that enables it to pick up a sheet, check the weight, and put it back down if it accidentally grabs more than one sheet. This protects the machine from jamming or breaking under the strain of putting too much material into the cell. Additionally, the software at work within the bending cell can actually make decisions on the best way to bend a particular shape before staging the part to move it on to welding.

Benefits of a Robotic Bending Cell

We never invest in new technology at American Manufacturing only for the sake of innovation — it’s always for a purpose! Let’s explore a few of the ways the Trumpf robotic bending cell is making a difference for our manufacturing processes and, ultimately, for the experience and end results our customers receive:

Increased Productivity

This incredible technology is capable of bending any part we need it to, and it does so at least twice as fast as we could do it by manpower alone! This 50% production increase allows us to hand off mundane tasks that involve a lot of strain and heavy lifting to automated technology, freeing up our employees to focus on the more meticulous and interesting aspects of manufacturing parts and equipment for our customers.

Greater Accuracy

Because the cell can bend to within one-third of one degree, it also works beautifully with our robotic welding force, bending parts so accurately that missed or weak welds are a problem of the past. This is a great example of how continuing to pursue automation and robotics in manufacturing can lead to even greater quality control, creating the best possible end products by reducing human error and increasing productivity.

Expedited Lead Times

In tandem with a new ERP program we are implementing, the Trumpf cell allows us to see real-time data for how many parts are being made, making estimating lead times much easier and more accurate. These lead times are also made more accurate and faster because the Trumpf bending cell solves issues such as labor shortages and the speed at which we move from purchase orders through processing and building orders.

Embracing Technology-Minded Manufacturing

Being on the cutting edge of manufacturing allows us to provide our customers with unbeatable quality and speedy turnarounds, and this new bending cell is yet another way we are making our products and processes the best they can be. Contact us to learn more about our services and how we can help your business with custom builds and reliable, high-quality parts.