Tag : automation

manufacturing automation

Robots on the Rise — Rapid Advances in Automation

It is common knowledge that companies and educational institutions are doing what it takes to keep up with the ever-evolving field of automation.   Robots and robotics impacts work and workplaces in new ways, every day.

Automation Changes Every Thing

Automation is changing how we live, how we work, and how we spend our free time. It improves quality of life and productivity. The supply and demand in most areas of commerce and business field are made easier because of various uses of automation. According to economists,  the improvement of productivity that automation provides is positive for improving Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the value of goods and services produced in any given country.

Robots are a newish concept. However, since the beginning of making and providing goods and services, automation has existed. Consider the printing press, the steam engine, or a plow and compare them to a modern-time machine shop.  Machine-tending robots utilize times when production would not occur. They also provide faster and more efficient work. However, while robots are on the rise, man and machine collaborate and work safely in the same space. ” Cobots” use sensors to allow humans and machines to work side-by-side in a machine shop or factory without incident.

Fear Not Robots

A custom machine shop is not the end of employing humans. No historical evidence exists that shows a significant technology impacting human employment levels. The fear that robots will take over stems from Western economies that include robots and automation. The trepidation and hesitation to utilize the latest technologies are unfounded. No one knows where the future of robots and automation will take the human race, but by all accounts, they are positive for all aspects of life.

Aspects of Automation

Companies like cnc automation continually examine the market of robots, machine shop technology, custom machined parts and all things’ automation.  Every aspect requires constant consideration and the evolution of beliefs.

  • The human workforce will remain competitive. Not all companies utilize automation and certainly not assign their labor to solely robots. Factors such as business size, geography, and payoff of the investment of automation technology. Companies that keep a mixed workforce are more productive than those that utilize only one or the other.
  • The rise of robots sees safer work conditions. Workplace accidents come at a high cost, financially and personally. With the latest technology, the most dangerous of tasks are doable by robots. Strains from heavy lifting, exhaustion, and unsafe working conditions are no longer the norm.
  • Automation drives job creation.  Evidence shows that waves of technology have no effect on employment numbers. The opposite is actually true. As technology evolves, the number of required skills in a workplace grows. 
  • Three major industries predict a mostly mixed workplace. Healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics already are putting automation to work with their human labor force. The trend is expected to grow far larger and far faster in the future. Productivity, accuracy, and competition are the driving force in robots and humans working together.
  • Workers report positive job satisfaction and a rewarding salary when automation is part of a company’s profile. Factors such as decentralized management structure,  collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, the wide variety of tasks, and employee autonomy lead to positive workplace culture.

Robots & Manufacturing

Consumers now enjoy a wide-ranging variety of products. The increase in low volume, high mix manufacturing is obvious. Robots and automation is crucial when improving productivity in a non-challenging way. For example, Denver Manufacturing is a highly adaptable region where machine shops work to reduce manufacturing defects, lessen machine downtime, and decrease cost and loss of productivity.

One of the rising trends in automation and robotics is Cloud robotics. It is when data is collected and analyzed for productive and predictive purpose. Robots are becoming easier to afford, more adaptive to constant updates, and straightforward when reprogramming.  Historically, larger businesses were the beneficiaries of robots. However, at a lower cost and easier to operate, everyone is seeing the rise in robots, in a factor or even in a personal home.

Factors that make automation and robotics available to all:

  • Expansion in Company Visions
  • Falling Prices in Components and Custom Machined Parts
  • Mobility and Gripping Technology
  • Cobot Evolution
  • Sensory Technology

Robots — The New Coworker

Workers see an increase in responsibility of workflow and processes in factories and warehouses because of effective integration of robots.  Other workers experience robots as direct coworkers and teammates. For example, robots and workers come together to assemble products or parts and pack them for delivery.

A collaborative robot is one that senses the environment and knows to move or react in tandem with a human counterpart. They work with human labor to lift a heavy object from one place to another for processing, get and carry parts that the worker requires, and perform precision manufacturing in a factory setting driven by human workers.

Actions possible with a collaborative robot includes:

  • Weld
  • Glue
  • Mark
  • Label
  • Solder
  • Lift and Place

The International Standards Organization  (ISO) identifies four kinds of human and robot collaboration:

  1. Safety-rated monitored stop. “This is similar to the approach used with traditional industrial robots,” said Vladimir Murashov, a senior scientist in the Office of the Director at NIOSH and a member of the NIOSH Center for Occupational Robotics Research. “The work stops when a worker would like to enter the workspace of the robot.”
  2. Hand guiding is when a robot moves with the help of an operator.
  3. Speed and separation monitoring are when a robot slows or stops when human coworkers approach or touches it.
  4. Power and force limiting. “This is the approach that has really taken off in the marketplace, so it defines what everyone considers a ‘collaborative’ robot,” said Carole Franklin, director of standards development at the Robotic Industries Association. “Typically, these robots are limited in the payload they can carry and in the amount of force they could exert if they were to strike a person by accident. Also, the power/force-limited robots tend to be designed with rounded edges and softer surfaces that reduce the risk of injury if contact were to occur.”

New technology is often met with skepticism and anxiety. However, no evidence exists that robots take away human employment. Instead, it creates new jobs and optimal productivity. Interested in seeing Sawyer, a collaborative robot in a machine shop? Contact Tag Team Manufacturing in Parker, Colorado.

custom machined parts

The Evolution of Manufacturing

It’s no secret that technological advances have changed every sector of the economy and this is just as true in the world of manufacturing as it is in any other industry. Those who have experience working in the manufacturing field know how the field has changed over the past few decades. Manufacturing has come a long way from the first assembly line and, now, people might think that custom machined parts, advanced machinery and robots are changing the field permanently. In order for a business to rise to meet these changes, they also need to understand the course of manufacturing evolution over the past few decades. How has manufacturing evolved from its roots to the present?

The Early Days of the Manufacturing Industry

Custom machined parts haven’t always been around as manufacturing has changed significantly over the past several decades. Many people look at the advent of the Industrial Revolution as the starting place of manufacturing. This was the first time that interlocking parts were used to create high-output facilities that could produce identical parts quickly. Despite the use of machines to produce parts, the human hand still played a critical role.

Unfortunately, one of the major problems with manufacturing during this era was safety. People were intimately connected to large machines with dangerous moving parts. One mistake could place someone in the hospital, rendering them unable to work or provide for their family. Furthermore, there were health concerns associated with many of these facilities. Because many of these factories were coal-powered and workers were kept in close quarters, illness was common. If someone got sick, that illness could spread through the entire building in a short period of time.

Finally, a huge safety issue was fires. There are numerous stories of the early days of manufacturing of large conflagrations that rapidly engulfed entire buildings. One example is the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire that took place in New York City in the early 1900s. It is still regarded as the deadliest manufacturing disaster in the history of the United States, as it resulted in the deaths of nearly 150 people. Fortunately, technology improved and changes were made that placed worker safety at the top of the priority list.

The Assembly Line Changes Manufacturing

As technology progressed, thinking changed. The leaders of the world of manufacturing looked for ways to increase output to meet the rising demands of consumers. With this, the assembly line was developed. Many people credit the first use of the assembly line to Henry Ford, which he used to build the first affordable automobile, the Model T. In the assembly line, workers are trained to perform the same task over and over again. Because they are performing the same task, they become experts at this task, allowing them to perform this task faster than anybody else. By combining many people who are experts at their singular task, production and output increase. The assembly line completely changed how manufacturing was performed.

Computers Change the Manufacturing Industry

As the 20th century rolled on, computers started to play a role in the manufacturing industry and changed the fundamentals. With the advent of computers, workers became able to give the computer commands, allowing more precise tasks to be performed. The early days of computer manufacturing involved punch cards that were used to deliver commands. Then, the computer would spit out answers or perform tasks based on those punch cards. Computers and machines are able to perform tasks more quickly and more accurately than human hands. By removing humans from the front lines, factories became safer and humans were largely able to work behind operational controls.

Automation as the Next Step

Technology continued to progress and no area was left untouched. This includes manufacturing and its custom machined parts. As computers became both smarter and smaller, automation developed. Automation is the ability of machines to perform the same task over and over again without requiring additional input from the human hand. Automation became common in the average precision machine shop, leading to significantly increased production capabilities. Machines that are automated do not get tired and, thus, led to the development of 24-hour per day production. Furthermore, these automation robots are also more accurate than the human hand. The manufacturing industry exploded as production and accuracy both increased. Instead of humans turning the screws and tightening the bolts, robots were able to do this. Now, the people became responsible for delivering commands to the machines, changing their jobs when necessary.

Manufacturing in the Contemporary World

Over the past few years, there have been several additional major changes in the world of manufacturing. Some of the examples include:

Workers are More Highly Skilled: Because the manufacturing industry is producing more complex items than ever before, the workers must also be more highly skilled. Those who work in the manufacturing industry often have advanced training in areas such as computer science and robotics.

Higher-Value Goods are Produced: Due to the advent of technology, the manufacturing industry is also producing more high-value goods than ever before. This includes advanced vehicles, accessories for computers, and other connected devices.

The Job of the Human Hand Has Changed: The days of workers getting their hands dirty in a steel mill or coal mine are now relegated to the pages of history. Today’s manufacturing employees are working on a squeaky clean factory floor delivering commands to precision computers that perform a majority of the step-by-step tasks. This is both faster and safer than the early days of manufacturing.

Manufacturing in the Global World: Finally, the world of manufacturing is now a global place. Many of the goods produced in factories today are exported to other countries. The original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is distributing products around the world. The growth of logistics has allowed this to happen. The world is more connected than ever before and Denver Manufacturing is at the heart of these custom machined parts.

Without a doubt, manufacturing is going to continue to evolve as technology continues to progress. CNC manufacturing and custom machined parts have already changed the way manufacturing functions. With computers able to perform multiple complicated tasks at the same time, consumer expectations have changed. It is important for manufacturers to stay ahead of the curve and meet these expectations.

Relying on High-Quality CNC Manufacturing

Precision manufacturing, such as CNC Machining, has completely changed the way that products are produced. It is important for manufacturers to rise to meet these changes so that they can remain competitive in the modern world. Having a high-quality CNC Machinist in a custom machine shop in Denver can help a company maintain an edge on their competitors. CNC machinery can help a business quickly produce high-quality results that will inspire loyalty among customers. To learn more about custom CNC precision machining in the Denver area, contact Tag Team Manufacturing today.

Engineer Showing Apprentice How To Measure CAD Drawings

Why Engineers Choose Tag Team Manufacturing

Experience and longevity have traditionally been hallmarks of successful businesses. The same is true of CNC machine shops. Tag Team Manufacturing has taken the qualities that have allowed us to be in business since 1987 and created the top CNC machine shop in Denver and the surrounding area. Great precision manufacturing shops continually search for the best ways to improve to ensure that we can meet the needs of our customers. Just like the Post Office wouldn’t use outdated technology to deliver mail, Tag Team Manufacturing doesn’t use the equivalent of horse-drawn wagons to manufacture parts and products for our customers.

What You Get

With Tag Team Manufacturing, you get over 30 years of experience and service in our community. We also give our customers over 30 years of continuously improving machines, so we can create the precision parts our customers need. Each year, we determine how we should invest and reinvest to make certain that we meet the needs of our customers as they require ever-more precision.

Our focus in precision manufacturing is to use our expensive equipment and our experienced team to give our customers the support they need to have the final product they want. Whether our customers need something made from aluminum, brass, copper, carbon steel, alloys, stainless steel plastic, our team will create just what you need. Over thirty years-experience also means we have great relationships with our vendors as they will help to ensure your final product is exactly what you want and need.

Our automation not only ensures precision, but it also allows us to use our labor more intelligently to create finished products faster and to maximize our cost efficiency. New technology has also added to our shop safety, made our products even more precise, and allowed us to complete work that would not have been possible in the past.

Sawyer

One of our best new helpers is Sawyer. Sawyer is a robot that takes up the same amount of space as a drill press, but with more accuracy and with less human input and manipulation required. Sawyer is an amazing machine that can lift nearly nine pounds at once, and can be programmed to do literally thousands of tasks with incredible precision to allow his human co-workers to take care of tasks that require thought and variability.

Some of the specific things we ask Sawyer to do include communicating directly with the CNC machine—you might say they talk the same language—Sawyer can also be used for tending products in development, testing procedures, and precision. Sawyer can do everything from a test, to CNC tend, to fabricate and mold, and a dozen things in between. Sawyer is a one-armed marvel who works 24 hours without breaks!

DMG Mori NHX 5000 Machines

The DMG Mori horizontal machines at Tag Team enable high-efficiency, continuous machining and mass production machining. We have two machines, one with 2 pallets and one with 21 pallets. This DMG has a full 4th axis capability and allows us to run multiple operations, using up to 180 tools. The speed, accuracy, and efficiencies of this machine can reduce normal production times up to 75%. With 21 pallets, the “lights out” capability is perfect for the OEM that requires high quality, larger quantities and quick turn around as this machine can run 24 hours. With this new technology, we are able to complete jobs quicker and more efficiently, allowing the customer to receive their parts quicker then expected.

CMM and Smartscope

Tag Team’s CMM, which stands for Coordinate Measuring Machine, allows us to print the dimensional reports which accompany parts when they are delivered to clients. This saves our clients time and money because they know exactly how specific each part has been manufactured. Our Smartscope is able to take a series of photographs and create a product that is within .0005. The Smartscope is used to ensure the precision that our clients need in the production of many small parts, and it makes those evaluations quickly and efficiently. This means you get the parts that you need with the confidence they are accurately fabricated, and we complete them faster than others can deliver them. Most of our customers like that combination of accuracy and speed.

Quality at Tag Team Manufacturing

Our CNC manufacturing shop production works with a Quality Management Program in place to help ensure that the products and the services we provide are top of the line. Quality isn’t something that happens by accident, and it isn’t something that will only be provided for big customers. No matter what project our customers need—big or small—quality is something we do as we make the best products available; and we strive to ensure that our processes and procedures are observed, repeatable, and controlled. These are the things that make us recognized for our quality outcomes.

At Tag Team Manufacturing, we use the E2 manufacturing system which is software that allows us to track historical data which will tell us how efficient machine operators are, machine production, revision changes, and even more information. E2 also allows us to search, reuse, and adapt to other development efforts. This allows us to help customers get products that are made faster, more accurately, and less expensively than if that data was not available.

We also use an automated coordinate measuring machine, or CMM, which lets us determine if a component we have produced is within the accepted tolerance range. We have other automated quality control machines to help us ensure that what we are making for you is exactly what you want and need from us.

Over Thirty Years of Quality Service

Tag Team Manufacturing, rated a top machine shop in Denver, provides the kind of customer service that people expect when they walk into a retail store with high quality parts. We strive to help our entire team understand the importance of staying in communication with customers and potential customers. This communication does not just occur when we need questions answered, but we also want to talk about progress on your project or other questions you may have.

Part of ensuring quality is making certain that files you give us or that we create for your project remain safe. Gone are the days when security meant putting paper plans away when not in use. We use the best software and hardware protections available. We ensure that everything we work on with our machines has real-time backups to protect intellectual property from outside intruders, or from system crashes. Hard copies are protected by security cameras 24 hours a day, and hard copies are stored in fire-proof cabinets.

Tag Team Manufacturing, with top CNC machinists, makes our own product line and we have been named a top CNC shop in Denver. When we work this hard for ourselves, you can count on us working even harder for you. We stand behind our products as we produce the best ball racks in the world.

Consider the pool accessories we build ourselves. Our products have been called the best in the world by professional pool players. The precision that these professionals require keeps us focused on quality and perfection. We strive to be the top original equipment manufacturer in the area.

Find out why Tag Team Manufacturing has been a leader in CNC manufacturing for decades, and why we will continue to chase perfection.

Denver Manufacturing

10 Ways To Take Your Machine Shop To The Next Level

All business people desire to expand and grow their entities. They would like to see these businesses increase performance production, strategies, and numerous other practices. While some these people may have the right idea, some are implementing ineffective approaches. Taking your machine shop to the next level will not just happen through your usual business practices. You have to introduce advanced methods that will elevate your success. Here are some of the top proven techniques that our Denver Manufacturing facility has implemented.

Automation

The mention of this term brings the idea of introducing robotic science to your shop. Automation entails other different and simpler ways besides robots. However, robots are the most effective and versatile tools of automation, but you have to be realistic. If you cannot afford it, opt for other alternatives while you plan about it. Automation makes work efficient and faster. For instance, automation is a fundamental requirement in precision manufacturing to achieve high accuracy. Evaluate your business and determine where to begin as you gradually increase your automation.

Additive Manufacturing

Elevating your business could mean introducing a new function such as original equipment manufacturer. Additive manufacturing has the capability of transforming your machine shop. Adding a new function will undoubtedly require a substantive investment. If your shop is not ready for this new level, keep in mind and consider it for the future. It has a lot of potential in part designs, supply chain and lead times. Additive manufacturing may demand a heavy capital outlay but later give big returns. It is also a major step in your business and requires keenness. Think about it and deliberate with other stakeholders to evaluate feasibility.

Lean Production

Your custom machine shop will never realize success until you avoid wastage and have a consistency of lean production. That means you will always have to conduct evaluations that identify non-value added practices and eliminate them. Most of the wasteful efforts and steps are invisible and cannot be identified without an examination. Walking through your shop and noting these processes is the most effective way of making this change. Lean management is not just about cutting waste. It also entails fully utilizing resources and the available tools to increase production.

Training

The manufacturing industry is evolving rapidly, and something new is emerging on a daily basis. You cannot make progress in your shop if you do not adopt new business practices. This entails purchasing new work tools and integrating emerging models. Any further changes ought to be accompanied by training and educating employees. Training is not just to orient and teach them about new things. It is also to enhance workplace health and safety. Workplace hazards characterize CNC manufacturing, and hence, employees should be protected. Training forms a culture of learning in your business. Your team will always be enthusiastic to get more information and knowledge.

Routine Maintenance

A CNC machinist understands that maintenance is necessary. You do not have to conduct this exercise because some areas require an expert. For instance, a machine shop Denver will hire an engineer to do this work. Maintenance also includes updating software and upgrading tools. They are the lifeblood of your machine shop because these tools significantly determine your performance. Modern machines are programmed to diagnose themselves. In case an emergency situation happens, a device or machine will shut down automatically and minimize possible damage. Conducting routine maintenance should not cost you much.

Organization and Collaboration

Business does not flourish and prospers because on one individual’s effort. Your custom machine shop certainly has several employees and other stakeholders. Advancing your shop will require improved organization and collaboration of both people and activities. As the leader or CNC machinist in that workplace, you must provide guidance. Establish cohesion through properly organizing tools and equipment in the shop. An orderly workplace increases workflow pace. Teach people how to work together and cooperate in their activities. Each employee contribution major counts in the progress of the business.

Realistic Goals

Endeavors of improving business at your shop will take time before they give substantial returns. It is like a journey that entails one step at a time. Set goals and have a plan after you decide to expand or elevate your business. Ensure these goals are manageable and practical. Some business people want to aim too high and hope to achieve it within a short time. Unrealistic goals will discourage you or even push you to unwise decisions. Small milestones are advisable because after you accomplish each, it motivates you to the next level.

Working Hard

The cornerstone of Denver manufacturing is working hard. All these tips and strategies of making you shop better will require a lot of effort. While most successful people emphasize on working smart, the hard work is part of it. No success will come from mediocrity and doing thing ordinarily. The manufacturing business is competitive, and only those who differentiate themselves will thrive. While pursuing prosperity and new levels in your business, failure and mistakes are part of this journey. Do not be derailed because humans are bound to err at any particular point. Note the mistakes, learn from them and move forward.

Team Work

Your team of employees and work associates hold part of the key to your success. Team building activities would help in teaching employees how to cooperate. Teams need to learn effective communication, which is the foundation of their cohesion. Take these teams through drill work and assist them in optimizing their functions and efforts. Teams also require problem-solving knowledge. They do not have to wait for senior management to make decisions for them. These ‘red tapes’ are sometimes redundant. When low-level employees are allowed to make decisions, it saves time and resources.

Routine Appraisals

Implementing new practices and upgrades is not enough to maintain the expected standards of your shop. Due to the rapid changing of the manufacturing industry, regular appraisals are essential. Auditing your work processes and strategies uncovers waste, areas of weaknesses that require attention, challenges, strengths, and any other significant information. The information is an asset that guides you on areas to adjust, revise or do an overhaul. It also points out the strengths and opportunities that you would capitalize to maximize positive results.

Denver manufacturing has significant potential with many opportunities. Maximize on these openings and take your business to a higher level. These tips and approaches are practical and viable for any machine shop seeking to advance its level. Apply one at a time and enjoy operating on an improved realm. Remember that effort is mandatory in accomplishing the new level and maintaining it. Your clients will always be watching you.