All Axis Robotics Manufactures Custom Robot Arm End-Effectors with MakerBot METHOD
September 25 2019 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Turnkey robotics provider reduces lead times
and costs while increasing production efficiency with in-house 3D
printing solutions
MakerBot, a global leader in 3D printing, revealed that All Axis
Robotics is implementing the MakerBot METHOD manufacturing
workstation into its automation processes to produce custom tooling
parts for its legacy machines as well as customers.
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All Axis Robotics is a Dallas, Texas-based machine shop and a
leader in turnkey custom robot solutions for other machine shops
and manufacturing facilities in need of automated machine tending.
Customers enlist the expertise of All Axis Robotics’ mechanical and
manufacturing engineers to streamline their manufacturing
operations with robotic arms and custom end-effectors, including
those for CNC machine tending, automated part sanding, and brake
press machine tending, among others.
“One of the challenges we faced when adapting our collaborative
robots and automation in the machine shop was the need to develop
custom parts during the process. We would have to develop custom
brackets, fixtures, or fingers for the grippers, and not all of
this would be possible to produce on CNC machines,” said Gary
Kuzmin, CEO, All Axis. “When we purchased the MakerBot METHOD, we
automatically obtained all that capability for customizing all
these different parts. Within days, we were able to print custom
parts for our machines. The relevance of having this machine within
our process is that we have a quick turnaround capability to
produce custom parts that we can integrate into our systems
immediately.”
The engineering team at All Axis uses 3D printing to produce
custom tooling parts—reducing lead times from months to hours for
their bespoke robot end-effector designs. This ability to create
custom solutions for customers—combined with rapid turnaround
times—has helped All Axis gain a competitive advantage against
competitors as more manufacturing facilities upgrade new and legacy
equipment to meet the increasing demands of industry 4.0 and the
modern global marketplace.
“Not only was it extremely valuable for us to make on-demand
custom parts for what we needed to keep our operations going, but
we were able to implement 3D printing for our customers and their
needs,” added Kuzmin. “As our engineers realized the capabilities
of 3D printing, we were able to create a product line of 3D printed
parts for existing customers who had similar challenges.”
For example, All Axis engineers designed and manufactured a
custom part sander using MakerBot’s strong and durable real ABS
material with the METHOD X. The robot sander automates the
time-consuming manual aluminum sanding operation; helping a machine
shop to run more efficiently by freeing up personnel for other
tasks. It features two sides with different grid sand pads as well
as a connection for a vacuum to remove debris.
By producing the part with an in-house METHOD printer, the team
was able to eliminate undesirable factors typical of traditional
manufacturing processes, including expensive machinist time and
material costs. And by approaching the part design through the lens
of freeform additive manufacturing, the engineers were able to 3D
model the part quickly without having to account for complex
assembly considerations typical of traditional manufacturing
processes.
The ability to print with Stratasys® SR-30 soluble support
material allowed the engineers to design the sander as one complex
part, which would’ve been impossible to machine using traditional
manufacturing methods. METHOD’s dimensional accuracy ensured that
the part mated perfectly with the robot arm on the first try. The
use of production-grade ABS printed in the 100°C heated chamber
produced a very strong and durable tool capable of withstanding the
harsh machine shop environment.
“All Axis Robotics is a prime example of a customer who has
embraced the possibilities of additive manufacturing to remain
competitive in today’s environment,” added Nadav Goshen, CEO,
MakerBot. “By investing in in-house 3D printing solutions,
companies like All Axis can change how they approach manufacturing.
By combining automation with the quick part turnaround time METHOD
has to offer, companies can now improve their production
capabilities and grow business opportunities.”
“One of the interesting things about our shop is that right next
to our million-dollar machines on the production floor is a
MakerBot METHOD, which is about $6,500. And it’s that $6,500
machine that is able to keep our million-dollar machines running
automation,” concluded Kuzmin.
To learn more about All Axis Robotics, visit
www.allaxisrobotics.com/.
Learn more about MakerBot METHOD at www.makerbot.com/method.
About MakerBot
MakerBot, a subsidiary of Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq: SSYS), is a
global leader in the 3D printing industry. The company helps create
the innovators of today and the businesses and learning
institutions of the future. Founded in 2009 in Brooklyn, NY,
MakerBot strives to redefine the standards for 3D printing for
reliability, accessibility, precision, and ease-of-use. Through
this dedication, MakerBot has one of the largest install bases in
the industry and also runs Thingiverse, the largest 3D printing
community in the world.
We believe there's an innovator in everyone, so we make the 3D
printing tools that make your ideas matter. Discover innovation
with MakerBot 3D printing.
To learn more about MakerBot, visit makerbot.com.
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Press Bennie Sham MakerBot bennie.sham@makerbot.com
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