Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: New big boy toys

  1. #1
    Join Date
    10-22-01
    Location
    All Over
    Posts
    38,201

    New big boy toys

    The company that I have been very closely involved with over the past 10 years has grown from $18 million to $70 million last year and projected to be $95 million in 2020.

    To feed that demand I am in the midst of a major capital expansion program, beginning with a new building and host of new machines.

    One of the more interesting is a prime example of AI. I installed the first of these systems in the US in 2008. I had become familiar with them in Europe. The system is a fully integrated and automated material storage, material retrieval (AS/RS) and automated saw.

    The storage (in my case 4850 individual boards) is completely random. As the machine adds inventory it places it where it "thinks" best. That is normally done at night---in an empty building with the lights out . The only light needed---a small one on the head to read the identifying bar code on the panel it is about to pick up. If not using bar codes the product description and sequence must be entered into the machine control before hand. The system knows what size board it picks up, as well as it's weight. If what it has picked up does not agree with what it was told to expect it will put that board in a quarantine area.

    The machine is self teaching. It "learns" the use patterns and places high use products near the saw, low use to the back of it's "warehouse". The stacks are nominally 6' high, for 3/4" boards that is 96 boards in a stack--and everyone of those boards can be unique SKUs. The system knows where each SKU is within it's warehouse.

    During the working shift(s) the demand is sent, as a production list to the control. Individual boards are pulled as directed and delivered to the automatic CNC saw. The saw shares the production list and down loads the required cut program for each board.As time permits the system will "look ahead" at demand and place needed boards as close as possible to the saw bed. If a board is at the bottom of a stack of other SKUs it will "dig" for the one needed and place the ones on top of it wherever it finds room to do so.

    The saw prints a bar code label and places it on each part it cuts. The operator then places the individual parts in appropriate groups to move to the next stage of production.

    Total cost of the system $550,000 plus I am allocating another $150,000 for installation, training, and managing the learning curve.

    I am also adding two more major automated "cells" that if interested I will share as time permits.
    "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty” ---Sir Winston Churchill
    "Political extremism involves two prime ingredients: an excessively simple diagnosis of the world's ills, and a conviction that there are identifiable villains back of it all." ---John W. Gardner
    “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” ---C. S. Lewis

  2. #2
    Join Date
    11-22-03
    Location
    In the Village...
    Posts
    43,956
    Amazing...What'll they think of next?......Ben
    The future is forged on the anvil of history...The interpreter of history wields the hammer... - Unknown author...

  3. #3
    Join Date
    10-14-01
    Location
    TEXAS!
    Posts
    14,571
    You have cool toys! No wonder you don't want to retire.
    The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible - Arthur C. Clarke

  4. #4
    Join Date
    10-22-01
    Location
    All Over
    Posts
    38,201
    Quote Originally Posted by Mike View Post
    You have cool toys! No wonder you don't want to retire.
    That gave me a belly laugh

    What makes this so cool to me is the AI----I like people and things that think for themselves
    "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty” ---Sir Winston Churchill
    "Political extremism involves two prime ingredients: an excessively simple diagnosis of the world's ills, and a conviction that there are identifiable villains back of it all." ---John W. Gardner
    “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” ---C. S. Lewis

  5. #5
    Join Date
    10-21-01
    Location
    San Antonio, Tx.
    Posts
    18,387
    Fine description of the process, Dave. I think I followed as explained.
    ...............
    “You can vote your way into socialism, but you have to shoot your way out.” — Too fundamental to have an attribution


  6. #6
    Join Date
    04-23-02
    Location
    SW Colorado
    Posts
    4,959
    That is some cool and yet spooky tech. I would have a big master switch handy. I'm contemplating the workplace safety implications.
    "Back after 5 years. I thought you had died.

    don"


    Splitting my time between the montane and the mesas

    The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
    But I have promises to keep,
    And miles to go before I sleep,
    And miles to go before I sleep.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    10-22-01
    Location
    All Over
    Posts
    38,201
    Quote Originally Posted by CactusCurt View Post
    That is some cool and yet spooky tech. I would have a big master switch handy. I'm contemplating the workplace safety implications.
    It lives inside of a fence and the only time it is outside of the fence is for loading new inventory and in that case the opening is protected by a light barrier---anyone breaking the barrier automatically puts the machine into an emergency stop.
    "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty” ---Sir Winston Churchill
    "Political extremism involves two prime ingredients: an excessively simple diagnosis of the world's ills, and a conviction that there are identifiable villains back of it all." ---John W. Gardner
    “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” ---C. S. Lewis

  8. #8
    Join Date
    10-22-01
    Location
    All Over
    Posts
    38,201
    Quote Originally Posted by wacojoe View Post
    Fine description of the process, Dave. I think I followed as explained.
    Excellent
    "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty” ---Sir Winston Churchill
    "Political extremism involves two prime ingredients: an excessively simple diagnosis of the world's ills, and a conviction that there are identifiable villains back of it all." ---John W. Gardner
    “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” ---C. S. Lewis

  9. #9
    Join Date
    10-30-01
    Location
    Salt Lake City
    Posts
    30,650
    Quote Originally Posted by Dave Grubb View Post
    ...breaking the barrier automatically puts the machine into an emergency stop.
    Excellent and smart.

    Hunter
    I don't care if it hurts. I want to have control. I want a perfect body. I want a perfect soul. - Creep by Radiohead

  10. #10
    Join Date
    11-14-01
    Location
    Apache Junction, AZ
    Posts
    25,676
    Wow.
    Fred

    "Everyday I beat my own previous record for number of consecutive days I've
    stayed alive."

    'Take care of yourself, and each other.'

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •