Automation

摘要

The robotics system for arc welding at Iowa Mold Tooling (IMT), Gardner, Iowa, which was installed in June 1996, is beginning to pay off handsomely. Labor costs have been reduced by more than 75% and productivity has increased by more than 420%. The way things are going, it would appear that Iowa Mold Tooling, a manufacturer of large crane booms, will achieve a return on its investment by June 1999. This particular system was designed and manufactured by the systems integrator, Productivity Welding Inc. (PWI), Minneapolis. Included in the system are a model AW-006AL robot and an HM-500-A inverter power supply from Panasonic Factory Automation Co., Div. of Matsushita Electric Corp. of America, Franklin Park, Ill.