By Philippa Glover, Managing Director, CNC Robotics, 21st December 2019
Machining with robots
Machining with robots is becoming an increasingly popular option for manufacturers especially when producing larger parts in plastic, foam, composites and softer metals. Systems developed have been used to replace many hand-finishing tasks, where robots can provide a faster and more consistent approach than manual operations and eliminate health and safety issues. A growing number of software companies now support the programming of robots with variants of their five-axis milling capabilities. The combination of the robot and the software gives the equivalent benefits to those gained when programming machine tools, including the ability to create toolpaths directly from CAD models, together with options to simulate and optimise the programme on the computer. These options help to ensure that the robot will operate efficiently and safely, giving the desired productivity across all types of manufacturing.
Robotics In the creative industry
As with other industries, the key to the success of robot machining has been the ability to produce larger items more quickly and more consistently than traditional manual methods. In addition to the manufacture of film and theatre props, applications include making installations for theme parks and museums, and even carving decorations in ice for the Ice Hotel.
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