cohesive-smart-finishing-workcell-single-bay-inside

Cohesive Robotics

Streamlining Finishing Processes with Smart Work Cells

Quick Facts

Company
Cohesive Robotics

Application
Surface finishing
Robot guidance

Features
Force-torque sensor
6DOF collaborative robot
High-definition 3D machine vision
Robot-mounted camera

3D camera
Zivid 2+ M60 - industrial 3D camera

Published
20 September 2024

At a glance

Challenges

Manufacturing still relies on manual labor, especially for high-mix manufacturing and fabrication that requires high precision, but the industry has been experiencing a growing shortage of skilled workers. Manufacturers are in need of a highly accurate automation system that can handle complex metal parts and stay reliable in an industrial environment.

Solution

Cohesive Robotics has developed a turnkey solution to fill the gap, transforming how automation can be applied to high-mix operations. With the Zivid 2+ 3D camera mounted on the robot to ensure accuracy, the Smart Finishing Robotic Workcell™ is able to locate parts and perform precise surface finishing tasks.

Results

By switching to Zivid, Cohesive Robotics refined its perception workflow, significantly improving the system's overall performance. The Smart Finishing™ Robotic Workcell has delivered tangible improvements for its users. Processing times have decreased by 30% compared to manual finishing methods, while rework and scrap rates have dropped by up to 90%.

We’ve been very impressed with the camera’s generated data and ability to mount on the robot. The additional filters and post-processing features as part of the 2+ are particularly important for our applications” 

David Pietrocola, Co-Founder and CEO at Cohesive Robotics

 

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01 Story

Manufacturing still relies on manual labor, especially for high-mix manufacturing and fabrication that requires a high level of precision. Humans working in this field often have a keen eye for the level of detail needed to complete these tasks. However, the industry has been experiencing a growing shortage of skilled workers in this area. Cohesive Robotics has developed a turnkey solution to fill the gap, transforming how automation can be applied to high-mix operations. The inspiration for this innovation stemmed from the co-founders' observations of bottlenecks in finishing departments during factory visits, particularly when it comes to the handling and fabrication of metal components.


02
 Challenges

The development of the Smart Finishing™ Robotic Workcell came with its share of technical challenges. One of the main difficulties was ensuring the system’s flexibility in detecting and accurately locating parts within the work cell’s bed area. Since the work cell allows for different fixturing setups on a mobile cart, the camera and software must recognize parts, understand their position, and precisely guide the robot to execute tasks. Reflective metal surfaces further complicate the task, requiring high shape and edge reconstruction accuracy.

Handling potentially complex metal surfaces requires high accuracy in part processing. Ensuring both speed and resolution was also essential to the product's success. These challenges were intensified by the need for consistent and precise surface finishing to meet customer standards across various industries.

cohesive-workcell-scanning-closeup-cropped

"The stability of the SDK and available data streams were great to have as we integrated the camera into our software stack.”

David Pietrocola
Co-founder and CEO at Cohesive Robotics

03 Solution

The Smart Finishing™ Robotic Workcell integrates proprietary software with a 6DOF collaborative robot, force-torque sensor, optional tool changers, multiple finishing kit tool options, and a Zivid 2+ M60 3D camera. The self-contained work cell features a modern HMI station and safety enclosure to protect against spinning abrasives and is built on locking casters, allowing easy relocation in a factory, with only standard power, compressed air, and ethernet connections required. Mobile carts in a double bay or single bay configuration allow offline part fixturing and support a variety of factory floor workflows.

The Zivid 3D camera played a crucial role in this system to ensure accuracy:

  • Calibration stability: industrial 3D camera with 100+ hours of performance, reliability, and calibration testing to ensure it meets expectations in a tough environment
  • High resolution: high-fidelity color images in 5MPx resolution and HD point clouds
  • Reflective metal surfaces: Zivid 2+ takes complete and accurate point clouds of reflective and shiny objects
  • Robot-mounted system: Ultra-compact form factor and lightweight 3D camera that can be mounted on the robot for maximum flexibility
  • Unified 3D+2D: the data from Zivid 3D cameras are delivered in a unified format, which is what makes it so easy to integrate

The integration and testing were conducted entirely in-house, with test parts provided by early customers. Over the course of six months, the team shifted from a previous 3D camera solution to Zivid. By switching to Zivid, Cohesive Robotics refined its perception workflow, significantly improving the system's overall performance.

04 Results

The Smart Finishing™ Robotic Workcell has delivered tangible improvements for its users. Processing times have decreased by 30% compared to manual finishing methods, while rework and scrap rates have dropped by up to 90%. Additionally, premature wear of abrasive mediasuch as sanding discs, has been reduced by 30%. The system’s no-programming, autonomous capabilities have delighted customers. This allows operators to focus on production rather than complex robot programming.

Cohesive Robotics is actively working through a project backlog and is preparing for further deployments across the U.S., with plans to expand into Canada, Europe, and other regions. Future developments may also include expanding the work cell’s capabilities to handle tasks such as welding.


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About Cohesive Robotics

Based in New York, Cohesive Robotics focuses on delivering advanced automation solutions for high-mix manufacturing and fabrication industries. Their autonomous robotic workcells, which incorporate AI and sensors, streamline complex processes like grinding, sanding, polishing, and deburring. The company’s proprietary software allows for flexible, turnkey solutions that are ideal for low-volume and highly customized production environments.

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