I-Cubed Industry Innovators is a manufacturer of a broad range of industrial automation tools and custom-designed robotic machinery. But the Stoney Creek-based company faced a time-sensitive challenge they couldn’t solve alone.
The firm had a client that manufactures stone countertops and the pieces need to match up tightly, requiring accurate cutting. However, their water-jet cutting robot was out of spec and needed recalibration immediately – otherwise, it meant risking costly manual re-work and/or scrap.
Most precision machinery requires calibration, and for robots, FARO® laser tracking technology is typically employed. However, the specialized equipment is not something in I-Cubed’s arsenal.
“The FARO® Vantage Laser Tracker is an expensive piece of equipment that most places if they’re not utilized every day, won’t have access to,” says Kevin Hesch, business development manager at I-Cubed.
“Initially, I didn’t know where I could find the laser tracker so I reached out to FARO® directly, and they recommended the services of WAMIC [Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre] at Niagara College.”
A secondary challenge for I-Cubed was needing the service done in an extremely tight turnaround. The WAMIC team pulled its resources and a technician brought the high-tech equipment onsite to assist in the recalibration of the water-jet robot.
“The WAMIC team was phenomenal and we are thrilled with the results,” notes Hesch, adding those results involved the robot going from a 5mm to a .4mm positional accuracy after calibration.
“I’ve already recommended this service to multiple robot integrators and we will continue to use this service now that we know it’s available.”
Research & Innovation’s FARO® Vantage Laser Tracker is a portable coordinate measuring machine (CMM) that can be used on a shop floor in any location for recalibration of precision machinery that has alignment issues after repeated functions.