Loop Technology robotic machining system works with harder materials

The exterior of the RoboMach HA. Photo Credit: Loop Technology

The RoboMach HA from Loop Technology (Dorchester, U.K.) is a high-accuracy robotic cell developed to machine cured composite materials, such as carbon fiber, and is also suitable for other materials, such as wood, foam, plastics and more.

As workforce availability continues to be a challenge for manufacturing industries, RoboMACH HA aims to make automation more affordable to ease this strain. It is designed for suppliers who want to invest in high-accuracy automation, but have found traditional CNC machines unsuitable.

RoboMACH HA combines almost a decade’s worth of Loop Technology’s experience in developing bespoke robotic machining solutions. This process knowledge has enabled the company to design a product with versatility, satisfying a range of machining applications with accuracy and enabling LoopTechnology to pass on the cost-savings to its customers.

“While Loop Technology are best known for bespoke solutions, we recognized common requirements and an opportunity to make automation more accessible with an off-the-shelf solution that would suit many applications,” says James Streatfeild, product manager at Loop Technology. “We want to help our customers stay ahead of the market with a flexible, affordable process that can keep up with new and constantly changing product designs.”

Typically, robotic machining has suited softer materials such as wood, engineering foam or sand-casting molds. However, ROBOMACH HA uses the latest technology in robotics with FANUC’s M-800iA/60 high rigidity model for high-accuracy path applications, making it suitable for harder materials, such as cured carbon fiber.

RoboMach HA can handle workpieces up to 2,000 mm wide, 2,000 mm long and 800 mm high as standard. The maximum capacity is dependent on the application. It also features machine guarding to protect personnel and contain debris with a modular design to extend and alter cell dimensions. Add-ons are also available for the RoboMach HA, including a tooling rack, 7^th axis positioner, CAD/CAM robot programming software, cell extraction and at-source extraction.