Automatically feed and inspect components, assemble, laser-weld, and inspect and sort finished assemblies.

This machine orients, assembles, laser-welds, and inspects small parts for the high-tech electronics industry.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0CabRGQ1X8

Bulk components are operator-loaded into each of two vibratory bowls. Multiple, singulated components from the bowl feeders are picked, oriented via a Cognex vision system, and then precisely placed in a vacuum nest on a rotating index table.

Prior to laser-welding, sensors inspect each assembly for missing or misaligned parts. At the laser welder, an interlocked metal shroud lowers before the components are permanently welded by an 810nm laser beam. Parts exiting the welder are indexed beneath a vision camera for optical inspection, then automatically inspected for planarity by a custom-designed Heidenhain gauge array.

Failed assemblies are automatically ejected into a reject bin, while verified assemblies are sorted by nest I.D. into bins on a rotating output tray.

The entire system is controlled by a single PC running Microsoft.NET C++, with user input via a keyboard and touch-sensitive LCD panel display. The entire assembly, weld, and inspection process is user-configurable via custom screens at the user interface. Operator attention is limited to loading raw materials, unloading the output tray and reject bin, and acknowledging any error conditions as reported by the system software.