In our last blog post, What is a Desktop Automated Dispensing System, we defined automated fluid dispensing systems. In this blog post, you will learn the advantages of using desktop automated dispensing systems and what accessories they offer to improve your production process.
Speed
Many manufacturers will switch to an automated dispensing approach because they need to speed up production. Desktop dispensing robots and gantry robots can offer an easy solution and are often an easy addition to an existing manufacturing line, rotary table, or conveyor-fed assembly line. At EFD, our robots range in speed from 500 / 250 mm/s with our entry-level E Series up to 800 / 250 mm/s with our most advanced PRO/PROPlus Series. The cost upfront might be more than a manual dispensing method, but the true value is realized as you increase production. With the help of robots, you’re able to produce more products of greater quality, in less time than it takes when manually applying assembly fluids.
Positional Accuracy/Repeatability
Many manufacturers in automotive and consumer electronics industries have substrates that are delicate or require a high amount of precision and repeatability to avoid rejects. We also see this in the medical industry where industry standards are strict and product consistency is essential to meet regulations. Out of all our robots, the PRO/PROPlus line delivers the greatest accuracy with positional repeatability at ± 0.004 mm for the PRO Series and ± 0.003 mm for the PROPlus Series. The difference in repeatability between the two robots is in relation to the PRO Series having a stepper motor and belt drive and the PROPlus Series having a servomotor and ball screw drive.
Overall, incorporating a robot into your dispensing process can make it more repeatable, therefore more reliable. This can provide peace of mind that there is one less thing to worry about on the production floor.
Closed-loop Feedback
Pattern recognition, which changes the dispensing path based on product orientation, is available on all EFD vision-guided dispensing systems. The closed loop feedback system ensures that once the robot is set to an X, Y, Z location, the robot will then confirm this location is the correct one. This allows operators to set-it and forget it and use their energy elsewhere.
On the surface, automated dispensing systems offer obvious improvements to any dispensing line that manual processes simply cannot. Aside from these more widely known benefits, there are also accessories that either come with the robot or can be added to simplify programming or easily verify deposit accuracy and placement.
Vision
Vision capability can be extremely advantageous for many dispensing applications because it allows on-screen preview of the dispensing path to make programming complex dispensing patterns easier. We offer a pencil camera or a CCD smart camera depending on the vision-guided EV, RV, GV, and PRO/PROPlus Series robot you choose. The pencil camera can be used if your deposit is larger than 110 microns and/or if there is a high contrast between the fluid and the substrate.
The CCD camera is ideal when there is low contrast between the fluid and the part you’re trying to dispense on. This would include any substrate that may be translucent or reflective. The CCD camera is also ideal when dispensing very small micro-deposits.
The more advanced CCD camera comes with an auto button in the camera setup window of our DispenseMotion software to automatically adjust contrast settings. For instance, it changes the image to grayscale, which works extremely well for transparent substrates when you need the greatest contrast to see where to place your deposit. Overall, vision is helpful in many applications and can ensure that deposit placement is accurate.
Robot Initial Setup Wizard
All of Nordson EFD vision-guided robots come equipped with a Robot Initial Setup Wizard in addition to DispenseMotion software, which utilizes the robot’s vision system to allow users to program complex dispensing paths with just a few clicks. While the DispenseMotion software setup procedure is built directly into the program, the wizard tells you exactly what the robot is doing and why.
The wizard was designed to easily walk operators through each step of the setup process, including calibration and setting of offsets while eliminating the possibility of missing any crucial steps in the process. After the initial setup, any changes, such as switching out dispensing tips or syringe barrels, can be offset with the press of a button. Operators don’t need to reference a manual every time, which reduces setup time by 50% on average.
Automated Optical Inspection (AOI)
Nordson EFD’s OptiSure AOI software and confocal laser can be integrated into our vision-guided robots to provide optical assurance of fluid deposit dimensions and placement once applied to a workpiece. The confocal laser and software work in unison to provide complete feedback on the accuracy of your deposit. While the camera inspects the X and Y coordinates of your deposits (diameter and width), the laser measures the Z axis (height) of your deposit.
Instant quality feedback is obtained from the software, which eliminates the need to purchase additional quality control equipment. An image is also taken automatically after every deposit so when you’re in the program, you can analyze the deposit and determine if it meets your deposit tolerances and specifications. When something does fail, the program will tell you so you can adjust the settings accordingly. This reduces the possibility of rejects and rework down the line by allowing you to fix a dispensing issue at the source.
Height Detection
Most of our robots come with mechanical height detection, which utilizes a device that contacts the workpiece to determine the height of a single point at a time. While this is effective for most applications, more delicate substrates require laser height sensing technology.
Available with the PRO/PROPlus Series, the laser is a non-contact method that is perfect for delicate substrates and light substrates that would otherwise move if contact was made. The program can detect any variations in height and self-adjust accordingly.
Due to variation in height from part-to-part, it is important to have software that can automatically adjust to those differences and maintain the same deposit accuracy and quality. Our laser height detection also has the added advantage of determining the height of multiple points on a product in one sweep rather than the more time-consuming mechanical method that can only measure one point at a time.
Tip Detection
As an optional add-on, we offer two types of tip detectors that automatically adjust for differences in both location and height when switching dispense tips or syringe barrels during production. Our tip aligner is a non-contact sensor that uses an optical flag to measure X, Y, and Z locations. Our tip detector offers higher accuracy and resolution for more critical applications.
Using tip detection technology allows the robot to read the distance between the tip and the workpiece after each tip or syringe barrel change-out to maintain deposit consistency. When swapping out components, it’s easy for the location and height from the component to the substrate to be slightly off. This software eliminates the need for workers to have to be extremely accurate when swapping out components during production since the robot takes care of ensuring accuracy on the backend.
At Nordson EFD, we have an extensive line of automated dispensing systems. Aside from our entry-level E/EV Series and most advanced PRO/PROPlus Series, we also have two other robots for specific applications.
4-Axis Robots
Our R Series and RV Series robots offer a fourth axis for dispensing at any angle along the 360° rotation plane. With this technology, you’re able to dispense on the outer or inner diameter of your part, rotate around your substrate, and can easily access hard-to-reach spaces.
Gantry Robots
Most of your standard cartesian robots use a moving fixture plate. However, when working with heavy substrates or anything larger than 600 mm, a gantry robot is recommended. At EFD, our GV Series robot is compatible with working envelopes as large as 800 mm and allows the robot to move over the substrate instead of moving the plate the substrate is on. This results in greater deposit placement accuracy and longevity of the robot itself.
At EFD, we are a total solution provider ꟷ a place where manufacturers can find a complete solution for their specific dispensing application. Our robots easily integrate with our benchtop dispensers, dispense valves, jetting valves, progressive cavity pumps, and our wide range of disposable components including syringe barrels, cartridges, dispense tips, and two-part static mixers. Since our products can easily be integrated with one another, we’re able to meet a wider range of application requirements.
For a comprehensive list of our robots, be sure to check out our Automated Dispensing Systems Selection Guide. If you have any questions or would like to speak with an experienced application specialist, don’t hesitate to email us at info@nordsonefd.com.
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