Robotic Arm and End of Arm Tooling Analysis

Abstract

In the summer and winter of 2015 the author had the opportunity to work at A.S.S (Automation System Services) End of Arm Tooling, shadowing engineers and learning how to design and build EOATs for various products. A.S.S is a company that designs and builds EOATs that grab and remove a product from its mold. Normally comprised of plastic, products range from car dash boards to washer machine doors. A company that is looking to produce a certain part out of a mold would send to A.S.S. the CAD (Computer Assisted Design) data and/or a trial part(s) from the mold itself. CAD data is a 3D model produced on a computer that allow engineers to visualize and alter the tool without having to physically create it. Trial parts are simply the plastic parts sent from the factory. A.S.S. is also beginning to integrate 3D printing to print off its own trial parts. The CAD data would be analyzed, dimensions would be set, and a plan of approach would be made to construct an EOAT for the product. If test products from the mold were sent as well than tests could be run upon completion of the EOAT to confirm its ability to secure the part and function properly. After completion, the EOAT would be sent out, and if the business’s location was close enough, an engineer would accompany the EOAT to supervise the first trials on the customer’s robots. The engineer’s job is to make sure everything is in order, and if it is not, to fix any problems. The EOATs the author worked with are powered by pressurized air and used electronical sensors.