DEPRAG – For fully automated and efficient production
Automatic assembly and routing of flat conductor cable reduces cost and weight
Lighter cars are easier on the wallet and the environment
Mandatory process:
Scientists at the Institute for Manufacturing Automation and Production Systems (FAPS) of the Friedrich-Alexanthe-University Erlangen-Nuremberg have based their research on this idea and also on the automated handling and assembly of flexible flat cables. Their research has resulted in the development of a prototype system.
The FAPS research team enables robot-guided assembly & routing of multi-core flat wires into a three-dimensional module (e.g., a vehicle door panel) and assembly by hot melt adhesive coating or laser welding. The patent pending “Direct Contact Spring Clip” is the successful outcome of this development project.
A sophisticated screw-feed bolting system is used, as well as a special direct-contact spring clamp clip to connect the speaker’s electrical system to the flat cable to be mounted on the vehicle door panel.
The team led by Dipl.-Eng. Markus Michl has relied on DEPRAG’ s screwdriving spindles, feed systems and screwdriver controller technology .
The main component of the screwdriver system is a programmable DEPRAG MINIMAT®-EC Screwdriver with a torque range of 0.7 to 4.2 Nm suitable for the application. Project leader Dipl.-Ing. Markus Michl: “Due to its small size and low weight, this device proved to be the most suitable screwdriver spindle for the robot end effector.”
A screw feed system automatically feeds the four M4 x 12 mm screws required for the loudspeaker. Based on vibratory feed technology, the screw feed system is distinguished by its highly reliable feeding performance.
The screws are assembled in a two-step process: first the screw is screwed in at a slow speed and then tightened to a preset torque (minimum 1.2 Nm / maximum 1.8 Nm). Once the torque has been reached, the screwdriver stops automatically. This process is monitored and controlled by the Sequence Controller AST10 with integrated power supply and already loaded standard screwdriver programs, which is integrated with the central control system of the assembly cell. The Sequence Controller not only supervises the bolting process, it also controls and monitors data for central data collection and retrieval, compares data with external databases and allows worldwide access to processing data. The advantages are seen in the ergonomics of the sophisticated, high-precision software, the http interface and the integrated web server.
Dipl.-Inf. Markus Michl decided in favor of the DEPRAG AST10 bolting control “because the simple integration into our control system was convincing”.
