Advancements in the automation of tapping tool finishing processes: a breakdown of MGEP’s crucial contributions

Mondragon Goi Eskola Politeknikoa (MGEP), our MODUL4R partner, is working on the NECO use case. This is a practical case on the design of a modular finishing cell that performs some of the final operations of the tapping tools manufactured in NECO-Tivoly in Elorrio, Spain. MGEP currently defines the manufacturing route of the tapping tools as follows:

• Geometrical control

• Brushing

• Drag finishing

• Defect optical control

• Color ring painting

• Laser marking.

The idea is to place a robotic arm that transports containers full of tapping tools to diverse finishing stations considering the specific manufacturing route of every single tapping tool referenced. Not all the tapping tools referenced are intended to perform all the finishing operations. This is the main reason for using a robot to automate the flow of material inside the cell.

The latest advancement of MGEP in this way, has been the programing of the robotic arm among stations. While stations 1 to 3 have already been successfully programmed, the team is working on programming stations 4 to 6, as depicted in the accompanying figure. The major challenge in robot programming lies in defining the most suitable paths that the robot could follow so that it operates without colliding with the surrounding machinery placed in the finishing stations. This might be a challenge, however, we are making great progress in MODUL4R!