Flexxbotics has announced robot machine tending connectivity compatible with the full range of Okuma CNC machines and all of the FOBA Laser Marking + Engraving products.
Okuma America Corporation
With Flexxbotics, next generation machining environments using robotics with Okuma equipment achieve higher yields, greater throughput and increased profit per part, the company reported.
Flexxbotics' patent-pending FlexxCORE technology enables robots to securely connect and communicate with Okuma machinery in the smart factory to provide more powerful, flexible and open robot connectivity than previously possible.
Robot compatibility is enabled by Flexxbotics for all different Okuma machine types including lathes, multitasking, machining centers, 5-axis, double columns, grinders and hybrid. Flexxbotics is compatible with the full line of Okuma controllers including OSP-P100/200/300 series and the next-generation OSP-P500 CNC control.
"We understand that the robots need to work with the latest cutting-edge CNC machines, as well as the older machines that manufacturers already have in their plants," said Tyler Modelski, co-founder and CTO of Flexxbotics. "That is why we have achieved compatibility with over 1,000 different models of machines and have the ability to add new models and new PLCs quickly."
In addition to compatibility with Okuma controllers, Flexxbotics is compatible with a wide range of open standard protocols including OPC/UA, MTConnect, Modbus-TCP, TCP/IP, Ethernet/IP and DeviceNet along with proprietary controllers and interfacing protocols like MELSEC, Profibus/Profinet and others.
Flexxbotics robotic workcell digitalization is the backbone of the Smart Factory, delivering robot-driven manufacturing at scale with autonomous process control for advanced machining operations. Flexxbotics' SaaS/hybrid architecture also runs both online and offline so production continues with or without internet access, and Flexxbotics works with existing business systems such as DNC software, SCADA/HMI, CAD/CAM, IIoT, ERP, MES, PDM and others for complete synchronization.
A full set of bidirectional communication, transform and routing capabilities are available in Flexxbotics for the robots and Okuma machinery that are connected, including loading PLC programs, sending instructions, updating parameters and status awareness depending on the equipment's capabilities so the robots drive the machines in the smart factory.
"With Flexxbotics, the robots do more than simply monitor the machines-the robots run the machines at your command with closed-loop quality for continuous operations," said Tyler Bouchard, co-founder and CEO of Flexxbotics. "We believe the advancement of robot-driven manufacturing will transform the smart factory forever."
FOBA
Flexxbotics includes communication with FOBA's integrated camera system for vision-based inspection providing closed-loop feedback to the robot for autonomous process control. With Flexxbotics robot-driven operation of FOBA equipment customers achieve continuous operation, greater throughput and higher yields.
FOBA Laser Marking + Engraving (Alltec GmbH) provides precision laser marking systems and laser engraving machines including fiber laser markers and UV laser markers, as well as ultrashort pulse laser markers, CO2 laser markers and green laser markers for a diverse range of applications and industries. The patent-pendingFlexxCORE technology in the Flexxbotics solution enables robots to securely connect and communicate with the FOBA laser marking and engraving equipment including the integrated camera systems for robotic orchestration of part processing with in-line inspection. Flexxbotics compatibility includes the FOBA MarkUS control, as well as, FOBA's digital I/O's, PROFINET, Profibus/TCP/IP and EtherCAT.
"Connecting robotic machine tending with our FOBA laser marking solution using Flexxbotics provides an even greater return on investment," said Jeffrey A Kniptash, FOBA's Sales Manager for Americas. "Enabling Flexxbotics robot-driven manufacturing with our FOBA laser marking and engraving equipment to enable autonomous process control can remove bottlenecks and deliver continuous operation."
Flexxbotics solution coordinates robot actions with FOBA's three-stage marking process, which includes part inspection prior to marking, automatic mark alignment and subsequent validation of the marking. Flexxbotics utilizes either the Intelligent Mark Positioning (IMP) or Point & Shoot (P&S) capabilities in the FOBA equipment for precise alignment of the laser marker on the customer's product along with vision-assisted workflows for unmatched accuracy if touch-up is needed.
"Combining FOBA with Flexxbotics is particularly valuable in industries with strict regulatory compliance requirements that dictate the highest levels of repeatable precision such as medical devices and surgical products along with aerospace, defense and space," explained Bouchard. "Environments that require rapid and accurate processing like semiconductor and electronics operations also benefit substantially. With Flexxbotics and FOBA together, customers can optimize cycle-time, expand capacity and increase profit per part."
For more information contact:
Flexxbotics
12 Channel St.
Boston, MA 02110
877-456-1576
www.flexxbotics.com
Okuma America Corporation
11900 Westhall Drive
Charlotte, NC 28278
704-588-7000
www.okuma.com
FOBA Products Application and
Service Center
Videojet Technologies Inc.
1500 Mittel Blvd.
Wood Dale, IL 60191-1072
630-694-3243
fobasupport@fobalaser.com
sales-na@fobalaser.com
www.fobalaser.com