A Means to Streamline Automation Communication

Machine tending is crucial for realizing complete automation in manufacturing production. Effectively incorporating machine tending to align with CNC and other automation systems serves as a strategic approach to automate processes and improve overall efficiency.

While the fundamental functions of robot control, safety prioritization and proper functioning are covered by robot programming software, extending communication beyond the immediate cell poses significant challenges. According to Caron Engineering, many existing solutions lack the capabilities required for connecting with other devices or databases as well as for interacting with supervisory systems. Additionally, limitations in control parameters and adaptability to changing processes often hinder the full potential of machine tending integration.

Caron Engineering’s MiConnect Technology is designed to address the many challenges of integrating robot arms into a machine shop’s operations, including CNC and automation device compatibility, limitations for complexity, and flexibility and adaptability to changing processes.

MiConnect is a customizable application builder tailored for manufacturing, said to enable effective connection and control of all devices in a shop’s manufacturing environment. The MiConnect “toolbox” includes various pre-built devices, including the ability to communicate to CNCs, robot arms, electronic measurement devices, barcode readers, files, databases, supervisory systems and more.

For machine tending integration, MiConnect serves as a software-centric solution. It facilitates the connection of a robot arm with various CNC or automation devices to interact with each other by using drag-and-drop building blocks of operations to customize a manufacturing process. For example, when a robot unloads a part from a machine and presents it to an electronic gage for measurement, MiConnect can signal the gage to begin the measurement process. Upon completion, MiConnect will signal the robot to unload the part and then will send the data upstream for automated tool wear compensation back to the CNC.

Robotic Compatibility and Device Communication

According to Caron Engineering, not all robot arms and automation elements can connect to all controls. Specific communications protocols are required per control, which limits compatibility. For integration between robot arm and CNC, MiConnect can assign any robot or CNC as a device to pull in all the registers associated with the control to be used within the platform. The user can then use the platform to program the robot arm and CNC from a single interface. MiConnect can also be used to connect older machines that have no industrial protocols.

The company says robots lack the ability to read databases, too. When a robot is tasked with loading a part into a machine, there are databases linked to that specific job, such as the part program for cutting or the CMM program for identifying the required feature measurements — the  robot is unable to interpret this data. Moreover, if the database needs to be transmitted upstream to a production monitoring system, the robot faces challenges in connecting or communicating with such a system. MiConnect Technology simplifies the requisite communication and connectivity.

MiConnect streamlines user interaction by providing a singular, user-friendly interface for programming all device communication. The MiConnect HMI displays each step in the process and is customized to display any user-defined steps and instructions for the operator to complete before the process advances. Additionally, MiConnect is said to ensure process integrity by systematically logging all interactions. It has the capability to retrieve necessary data from files or databases and then transmit data upstream to supervisory systems, enabling comprehensive integration for total production monitoring.

The MiConnect platform was also created with flexibility and adaptability to ever-changing processes in mind. This empowers manufacturers to create a more versatile and responsive production environment. Previously, shops had to either develop their custom software or seek third-party applications to integrate machine tending functionalities with external systems. This adaptability is essential, particularly when robots require interaction within the broader manufacturing environment or with other interconnected systems.

By providing a solution for robots to communicate beyond their immediate environment or cell, MiConnect contributes to the efficiency and adaptability of robotic systems within manufacturing processes. It offers a more user-friendly and standardized approach to robot integration, reducing the burden on manufacturers to develop custom solutions for each combination of robot arms and control systems. By creating a standardized communication platform, MiConnect enables effective integration between robot arms and all other device communication within an automated manufacturing process.