MSP Ltd, the precision turned parts manufacturer, has increased its production by 15% on a single shift after taking delivery of a DENSO 4-axis machine-tending robot from AA Robotics. The robot loads and unloads components from pallets and holds them while sensors which measure height and diameter to check their quality.

The installation is part of a programme of investment which followed MSP's management buy-out earlier in the year. AA Robotics recommended the solution to assist in the manufacture of gas meter fittings and prepared a 3D simulation and mechanical and electrical design for the manufacturing process, as well as providing the robot and grippers.

Pallets of components are carried on a conveyor from a CNC lathe. The robot takes a component from the pallet and presents it in the correct orientation to an automated horizontal drilling and tapping machine. Completed components are then removed, inspected and placed back into the same pallet before passing to the washing process.

The DENSO robot has four seconds to unload, inspect, pack and reload the machine. A chuck clamp on the drilling and tapping milling machine has an opening of 0.5mm, which is well within the robot's capability of 0.02mm positioning repeatability. Parts are measured to 0.25mm as the robot holds them over the sensors. This removes the need to 'fixture' the component for inspection.

Because of the flexibility of the DENSO robot, MSP is now investigating similar tasks which could benefit from automation. The company aims to make investment in flexible machine tending equipment which can be re-used for many different tasks and contracts.

Following the successful integration, Martin Smith, director of MSP says: "Being able to select the exact robot for the application - be it a 4-axis or a 6-axis requirement using the same pendant and control systems - makes maintenance very easy. Having seen what is required on this first system, with help from AA Robotics we'll be able to recognise further opportunities to streamline and optimise the efficiency of our manufacturing."