Vertical Wall Gasket Dispensing
More Fourth Axis Variations

    With a theta mounted on the Z axis, it becomes possible to accurately dispense gaskets along the vertical walls of objects. In this example we have machined sockets which require a seal at the entry point. By itself this is not a difficult concept. The difficulty in doing this kind of thing in production lies with the issue of tip calibration. Using a unique calibration process that definitively locates the dispense tip no matter the tip angle or length of arm from center of rotation, New Precision Technology has simplified this technique, making it a production-friendly process.

In this application we applied a gasket to the inside of the socket as well as to the outside face. The outside face was not necessary, but dispensing the gasket on this face was more observable.

Other New More Fourth Axis Variations:

• Compliant foot gasket dispensing: square

Head Mounted Tactile Height Sensor
Automated tools reduce operator training requirements

    New Precision Technology is constantly researching new machine features to benefit our customers. Not only do we attempt to resolve existing production issues, we attempt to anticipate future issues and develop solutions that integrate seamlessly with minimal production impact. Fifth generation devices now cross-communicate, leveraging our production systems so that the whole is far greater than the sum of the parts.

Traditional dispensing tools are faced with process variations such as : temperature, part variation, fixture variation, and even operator variation (!) that require continual manual adjustments in pressure, speed, and even path location. These circumstances encourage the evolution of a unique plant position - knobologist. With our tools and processes, we eliminate the knobologist. The inclusion of these tools into a machine transforms a standard CNC platform into a stand-alone, high-precision, low-cycletime gasket applicator.

Other New Automated tools reduce operator training requirements:

• Laser Needle Tip Calibrator
• Automated vision system sensing

Smart dispensing can save adhesive dollars!

    The precise control possible with our advanced set of hardware and software tools makes it no longer necessary to aim for the top of the gasketting tolerance band. When a gasket specification is given, most applications are set up to dispense to the top of the requirement in gasket height so that the day to day process variations do not cause an undersized gasket to be produced. For example, if we have a 0.07" +/- 0.01" target, and I am able to dispense at 0.070" and instead I dispense at 0.080" in height, I am using up an additional 31% of material.

Add to this calculation the additional benefit of producing fewer non-conforming parts and it becomes plain that dispensing gaskets without good process control is a liability most companies can ill afford in this day and age.

3D Planar Correction
Automated QC allows unattended operation

    Automated quality control is realized quite effectively through our direct machine control model. This enables us to further close the process control loop between sensing and dispensing, allowing the robot to compensate in real-time for process variations. Trainable sensor models can perform signature analysis and allow precision sensors to deal with production variations and still prevent false negatives so that the positives are only those parts with valid problems.

This concept addresses something that is an issue with common, off the shelf (COTS) SCARA or 6DOF robots: dealing with process variability. Without the automation having the capability to adjust automatically to variations in parts, materials, and environment, you need to either accept looser tolerances or greater reject counts. With adaptable automation, there is now a governing automated ombudsman that can fix some of these issues, resulting in higher yields.

Other New Automated QC allows unattended operation:

• Automated profile analysis
• Automated vision system sensing