Automated Assembly Equipment in the Lab
Ever thought about assembly equipment? In the assembly process, lab automation equipment plays a major role. Assembly equipment includes robots, machine tools, and many other assembly tools used to assemble products in manufacturing processes across various industries. Any assembly work that is done by hand can potentially be automated.
Assembly equipment is used to automate repetitive assembly tasks, freeing up employees for higher-level assembly tasks, increasing quality, and efficiency. Automated assembly equipment is widely implemented in automotive manufacturing, aerospace, consumer electronics assembly, and computer products assembly, among other related industries. It’s probably safe to say that most assembly automation equipment has been designed to increase assembly productivity and accuracy and improve ergonomics and worker safety for those who would otherwise perform manual assembly tasks.
Automation equipment can also include other types of equipment such as machine tools used to create precision parts or machine tools that are capable of cutting or creating holes in metal, wood, or plastic materials such as water jet or laser cutting machines.
Any assembly automation equipment would also likely include robotics and other assembly automation control system components such as sensors, actuators, controllers, and vision systems used in assembly automation equipment.
Assembly automation equipment is designed to perform tasks that would otherwise be performed by assembly workers performing assembly operations by hand or using hand tools such as welders, drills, and nippers. Assembly workers performing manual assembly tasks are exposed to ergonomic hazards that can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). One of the greatest advantages of assembly automation equipment is its ability to reduce ergonomic risks for assembly employees while increasing productivity at the same time.
Many assembly tasks are better performed by assembly automation equipment, particularly when assembly involves some type of repetitive motion that can cause injury to workers performing assembly tasks. An assembly worker who performs different assembly operations for hours on end or works on assembly lines moving parts from one area to another must use particular muscle groups repetitively which can lead to fatigue and serious injury. While some assembly locations have employees trained as personal trainers who monitor worker fatigue levels throughout their shifts, shifting the assembly workload away from human beings is often more efficient for companies with large assembly workforces.
The assembly equipment industry has responded to this need for assembly automation by producing assembly machines that can accomplish assembly tasks in a fraction of the time it would take human workers.
Learn more about assembly equipment in lab environments with Retisoft.
