Key Precautions to be taken for Deployment of Robotic Fettling

Most iron casters have a large number of manual operators for fettling operation. In order to successfully implement robotic automation across the manufacturing setups following key steps are to be considered:

1. Long term commitment to deploy automation

Fettling Automation will go through learning, implementation, horizontal deployment phases and management must have long-term commitment to do this. 

2.Reliable Partner for Fettling

Deburring and grinding process knowledge are key ingredients of any success in Robotic Fettling, which acts more like a machine tool than an automation system. A competent machinery maker with this expertise is a partner for Robotic Fettling.

3.Successful implementation of the first application is a key for confidence in the team about Robotic Fettling.

Conclusion
Robotic Fettling is a revolutionary technology in iron casting industry. It leads to key benefits such as consistency in quality, high productivity and health and safety on shop floor. Iron Casters can deploy this technology in foundry by taking certain precautions to ensure success. In the near future Robotic Fettling is likely to sweep the  Iron Casting industry setting new benchmark for shop floor practices and methodologies, especially for fettling. 

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The Author, Silver Medallist and Graduate of IIT Bombay, and MS in Robotics from University of California, Berkelet, is CEO and R&D Head of Grind Master Machines Pvt. Ltd, pioneers Robotic Metal Finishing Technologies. "Explorer" at heart, Sameer Kelkar is venturing into new horizons of Robotic Applications such as Grinding, Deflashing, Fettling, Machining and many others. This article is written using research, data and application experience over the past 5 years.