Robots speed lighting assembly

Citation

(2001), "Robots speed lighting assembly", Industrial Robot, Vol. 28 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2001.04928aaf.011

Robots speed lighting assembly

Robots speed lighting assembly

Keywords Robots, Assembly, High speed

After redesigning its lighting fixture components for direct wiring, which is clamped or crimped rather than held with screws or riveted fasteners, BJB, a German lighting fixture manufacturer based in Arnsberg, decided to improve its material handling and assembly processes. The German company automated its assembly line by using 13 robots made by the Stäubli Group's robotics division in Faverges, France.

The Stäubli robots, ten RX 130s and three RX 130Ls, are grouped in a single assembly cell to wire and assemble lamp ballasts, fuse holders and electrical supply terminals. The robots unwind wire from a spool, cut it to length, and assemble the cut wire to the lighting components. The six-axis robots hold wire horizontally, vertically, or at a 90-degree angle as needed. After automated testing the finished subassemblies are conveyed to lamp assembly lines.

Lighting components whose wiring posed difficulties for manual operators are now wired in 18 to 74 seconds, much faster by the robots, because their movements are articulated beyond the capabilities of human hands. BJB reported that it has reduced production costs and improved the quality of its products since installing the Stäubli robots. The German company is now considering automating its linear component assembly.