Automated Production

October 03, 2008

Case Study: Dual Filling Machine for Dentistry Supplier

Background:  A dental supply manufacturer needed a complete system that would feed, orient, and spray print a compule, at approximately 1" long and a 1/4" diameter.  To fulfill their objectives and satisfy their budget requirements, the customer desired a fully automated system, which would work at a rate of 120 pieces per minute.

               Dentsply3

Solution:  We designed and built a system to perform the customer-requested functions with the following features:

  • Tooled vibratory feed bowl
  • Vibratory feed track
  • Eight-station Cam-type index unit with eight pocket-type Cam-driven fixtures
  • Commercial printer
  • Dual-track escapement chute with flip-arm for batching
  • Heat-seal bagger with Interloc

The customer can now batch feed a machine that will print at 120 pieces per minute, count, and bag parts to programmed batch sizes.  Printing includes product, date of manufacture, and the manufacturer's name.

              Dentsply

                      Dentsply5

                 Dentsply4

September 19, 2008

Case Study: Press Conveyance System

Background:  A pharmaceutical equipment manufacturer needed a special machine to eliminate the labor-intensive operation of removing molded plastic handles from their tree.

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Specialty Design was able to offer a cost-effective solution...

 

Solution:  We designed and built a press that cut the handles from the tree at a rate of 32 pieces per cycle at a 12 second cycle time.  The unit utilized the following features:

  • Commercial base frame
  • Pneumatic press
  • Custom die
  • Chain feed with WHMW nests
  • On-demand feed cycle

Press Conveyance System1  Press Conveyance System2

Press Conveyance System3

August 11, 2008

Case Study: American Red Cross Coagulant Dispensing Machine

Background:  For numerous applications, medical practitioners such as those at the Red Cross utilize absorbent pads for applying coagulants.  For example, in order to decontaminate operating room surfaces or clean blood off of patients, these pads are impregnated with coagulants and are kept sterile, lint-free, soft, and slightly abrasive. 

Prior to approaching Specialty Design, the Red Cross dispensed coagulants onto absorbent pads by hand.  This approach proved to be too slow and the application too inconsistent.  Specialty Design was able to offer a cost-effective solution...

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ARC2

Solution:  We designed and built a special machine that had the following features:

  • Robotic gun movement
  • Pneumatic dispensing guns
  • UHMW bottle tray
  • Stainless/UHMW gauze tray
  • PLC control
  • Alumninum/Lexan guarding

The Red Cross can now produce coagulant pads in one table load at 30 second cycle times.  Furthermore, coagulants are dispensed in a more uniform and consistent fashion.  Not only did our special machine meet the Red Cross' firm expectations for producing a critical product, but the Red Cross informed Specialty Design that the machine has most recently been provided for military use.

January 15, 2008

Case Study: Precision Filling Line

Background: 

A pharmaceutical company required a bottle fill machine for a new type of resin, as none of the commercially available machines would satisfy their needs. 

See Specialty Design's solution below...

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Solution: 

Specialty Design designed and built a machine that satisfied customer's requirements to fill long-neck bottles at a rate of 300 per minute with a precision fill.  To work with the new type of resin, the machine utilized the following features:

  • A stainless steel framework
  • A vinyl slat conveyor
  • A screw driven resin feed hopper
  • A vibratory system for resin chute and bottles

Case Study: High Speed Pharmaceutical Cap Heat Seal Machine

Background:

A pharmaceutical manufacturer required a revision to their heat seal machine to achieve greater throughput and a more efficient count/per box system.

See Specialty Design's solution below...

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Solution: 

Specialty Design modified customer's design and added a spin count and box shuttle unit.  Specialty Design's modifications increased the machine's output to approximately 950 parts/per minute.

Case Study: Machining Center Cell

Background: 

A manufacturer of die-cast aluminum floor panels required equipment to manufacture a better quality product to remain competitive in their industry.

See Specialty Design's solution below...

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Solution: 

Specialty Design designed and built a complete 2-unit work cell that would:

  • Automatically clamp the panels
  • Machine the panels square
  • Size and drill all holes around the inside periphery of the panels. 

The holes were drilled within .005" of true position.  This was accomplished using the following features:

  • Precision rotary tables
  • Milling heads on precision-powered slides
  • Pneumatic & electric-powered drill-heads

Case Study: Robotic Press Feed System

Background:  

An automobile frame manufacturer required an economical automatic press loading device.  Specialty Design was positioned to build a machine for a much better value than a Detroit manufacturer. 

See Specialty Design's solution below... 

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Solution: 

Specialty Design designed and built a press loading unit that integrated the following features:

  • A fixtured rotary table
  • Linear robot with vacuum, which allowed the unit to function within press cycle for maximum production