CNC Machining Center / Milling Machine / Drilling and Tapping Center Automation
For users of vertical/horizontal machining centers, milling machines and drilling and tapping centers, we provide automation covering blank storage, visual positioning, truss manipulator or robot loading and unloading, machining, inline inspection and part discharge, as a stand-alone machine or as linked multiple machines.
Solution Overview
Automatic loading and unloading solutions for users of vertical/horizontal machining centers, milling machines and drilling and tapping centers
CNC machining center / milling machine / drilling and tapping center automation covers 8 steps: "blank storage — vision positioning — truss/robot loading — machining center processing — part retrieval — air blow cleaning — in-line inspection — discharge". Two loading configurations are offered, truss manipulator multi-machine linked lines and industrial robot single-machine loading and unloading: the truss suits large-batch, multi-process box-type parts; the single-machine robot deploys flexibly and is not limited by factory building span, suiting small and medium batches or scenarios with frequent changeovers. The material bin is configured according to workpiece dimensions and comes with material shortage detection and alarm, and can be integrated with WMS.
For companies machining housings and structural parts on vertical / horizontal machining centers, milling machines and drilling and tapping centers, we provide automated loading and unloading solutions.
The complete process is: Blank storage → vision positioning → gantry manipulator/robot loading → machining → part removal → air blow cleaning → in-line inspection → discharge; it can serve as a standalone loading and unloading unit or be combined into a multi-machine line.
Solution configuration
Four Modules Combined by Workpiece and Cycle Time, Available as Options
Material Bin Feeding
- Automatic blank feeding from the material bin
- Material bin configured by workpiece size
- Material shortage detection and alarm
- WMS integration
Gantry or Robot
- Gantry manipulator linking multiple machines
- Industrial robot standalone loading and unloading
- Selection by factory building and cycle time
- Flexible fixture adapts to multiple specifications
Machine Tool Loading and Unloading
- Automatic door opening and workpiece exchange
- Air-blow cleaning of spindle and table
- Automatic part pick-up after machining
- Can be configured as multi-process linked lines
Inspection and Discharge
- In-line dimension / appearance inspection
- Automatic OK/NG Sorting
- Good parts and defective parts discharged separately
- Inspection data can be sent back
process Workflow
Full-process automation, from blank storage to part discharge
- 01 Blank Storage
- 02 Vision Positioning
- 03 Gantry / robot loading
- 04 Machining Center Processing
- 05 Pick-up
- 06 Air Blow Cleaning
- 07 In-Line Inspection
- 08 Discharge
Critical Stages
Truss-Linked Lines and Standalone Robots: Each Form Has Its Own Applications
Gantry Multi-Machine Line
A gantry manipulator spans multiple machining centers to transfer parts automatically between process steps, suitable for high-volume, multi-process step machining of box-type parts.
- Gantry spanning multiple machine tools
- Automatic transfer between process steps
- Reduces handling and waiting between process steps
- Suited to high-volume, multi-process step production
Robot Loading and Unloading for a Single Machine
An industrial robot works with a material bin to load and unload a single machining center; flexible deployment suits small and medium batches or frequent changeovers.
- Robot works with material bins for loading and unloading
- Flexible deployment, not limited by factory building span
- Preset programs recalled on changeover
- Suitable for small and medium batch, multi-variety production
Applicable workpiece
Handles multiple specifications, small-to-medium batches and large-volume production
- Multi-face milling and boring
- Multi-process machining center
- Flatness and hole position inspection
- High-volume production line
- Milling and drilling
- Mainly vertical machining centers
- Dimension and true position inspection
- Medium-Volume Production Line
- High-precision milling
- Mainly horizontal machining centers
- Surface and dimension inspection
- Small-batch production line
- Drilling and Tapping Center Machining
- High-speed drilling and tapping
- Dimension and appearance inspection
- High-volume production line
Delivery and After-sales
Follow-through from requirement confirmation to trial production acceptance
- 01 Requirement confirmation and site survey
- 02 Solution design and simulation
- 03 Equipment manufacturing and procurement
- 04 Integration, installation and commissioning
- 05 Trial production and process optimization
- 06 Acceptance and Delivery
- 07 After-sales service and follow-up visits
Remote technical support and regular follow-up visits are provided after delivery; repairs for non-human-caused damage are free of charge within the warranty period, and paid maintenance and upgrade services are provided after the warranty expires.
Common Question
Common questions about automated loading and unloading for CNC machining centers
How Do I Choose Between a Gantry Line and a Standalone Robot?
Gantry manipulator Spanning multiple machining centers to achieve automatic transfer between process steps, it suits mass production of multi-process box-type parts and can reduce handling and waiting between process steps; Industrial robot With a material bin, it handles loading and unloading for a single machining center, deploys flexibly without being limited by the factory building span, calls up preset programs on changeover, and suits small to medium batches or frequent changeover scenarios.
Which Machine Models Does It Correspond To?
4 machine model types: Vertical / horizontal machining centers, milling machine, drilling and tapping center. The solution combines modules according to 3 configuration dimensions (workpiece size, weight, and cycle time).
How are tool changes and cleaning handled?
The solution includes automatic door opening and workpiece exchange, air-blow cleaning of the spindle and table, automatic part removal when machining is complete, and multi-process step line linking.
Which Workpieces Does It Cover?
4 types: Housings (engine housing / gearbox housing / pump body), Structural Parts (structural parts / brackets / bases), Mold Parts (mold cavity / insert / mold base), 3C structural parts (electronic structural parts / housings / brackets).
How are inspection and discharge combined?
Provides inline dimensional inspection / appearance inspection, automatic OK/NG sorting, and separate discharge of good parts and defective parts; inspection data can be fed back. At the material bin end it provides automatic feeding from the blank material bin plus material shortage detection and alarms, and can integrate with WMS.
Submit Samples and Requirements
Send us the workpiece drawing, machining equipment, current cycle time and site conditions, and our solution engineers will recommend the material bin type, picking method and inspection configuration.
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Configured to Your Workpieces and Cycle Time
Send us the workpiece drawing, machine tool equipment and production cycle time, and our solution engineers will recommend the corresponding material bin type, picking method and inspection configuration.