In brief

For retrofit or flexible cells involving existing robot-cell upgrades, start with representative parts, tooling and the complete process sequence and your full operating sequence, then check the credible part, process, cycle and recovery extremes before committing to a final layout.

Plan robot cell retrofits around your parts, process, cycle time, tooling, recovery and acceptance criteria. Discuss the highest-risk feasibility questions with Oxford Industrial Automation.

On the production floor

Plan for the conditions your team handles every day — Robot Cell Retrofits

Plan robot cell retrofits around your parts, process, cycle time, tooling, recovery and acceptance criteria. Discuss the highest-risk feasibility questions with Oxford Industrial Automation. For retrofit or flexible cells involving existing robot-cell upgrades, the deciding details include part, product and process variation for existing robot-cell upgrades, required cycle and production pattern and run-off criteria and production evidence.

Discuss your application
Your application

Details worth resolving early for retrofit or flexible cells involving existing robot-cell upgrades

Question 1

Part, Product and Process Variation for Existing Robot-Cell Upgrades

For retrofit or flexible cells involving existing robot-cell upgrades, describe the current position, required outcome, acceptable limits and known exceptions for part, product and process variation for existing robot-cell upgrades. That lets us compare options against your real production rather than one nominal value.

Question 2

Arrival Pattern and Presentation

For retrofit or flexible cells involving existing robot-cell upgrades, describe the current position, required outcome, acceptable limits and known exceptions for arrival pattern and presentation. That lets us compare options against your real production rather than one nominal value.

Question 3

Required Cycle and Production Pattern

For retrofit or flexible cells involving existing robot-cell upgrades, describe the current position, required outcome, acceptable limits and known exceptions for required cycle and production pattern. That lets us compare options against your real production rather than one nominal value.

Question 4

Tooling, Sensing and Process Interfaces

For retrofit or flexible cells involving existing robot-cell upgrades, describe the current position, required outcome, acceptable limits and known exceptions for tooling, sensing and process interfaces. That lets us compare options against your real production rather than one nominal value.

Question 5

Operator Access, Recovery and Changeover

For retrofit or flexible cells involving existing robot-cell upgrades, describe the current position, required outcome, acceptable limits and known exceptions for operator access, recovery and changeover. That lets us compare options against your real production rather than one nominal value.

Question 6

Run-Off Criteria and Production Evidence

For retrofit or flexible cells involving existing robot-cell upgrades, describe the current position, required outcome, acceptable limits and known exceptions for run-off criteria and production evidence. That lets us compare options against your real production rather than one nominal value.

Your operating cycle

Plan for more than automatic running

Include replenishment, normal production, planned change, short stops, fault recovery, cleaning and maintenance for retrofit or flexible cells involving existing robot-cell upgrades. A fast automatic step can still leave your team with a slow or awkward overall process.

Prove the result

Test retrofit or flexible cells involving existing robot-cell upgrades against representative parts, tooling and difficult cycle conditions

Normal production

Run the agreed product or part mix for retrofit or flexible cells involving existing robot-cell upgrades at your intended operating pattern.

Difficult conditions

Include credible extremes for part, product and process variation for existing robot-cell upgrades and arrival pattern and presentation.

Fault and recovery

Show how the proposed solution detects a problem affecting retrofit or flexible cells involving existing robot-cell upgrades, responds safely, informs your team and restarts under control.

Important limits

Be clear about what the trial has shown

Compare with Repeatable Production Using Existing Robot-Cell Upgrades if that operating pattern is closer to your application.