TL Aerotek was looking for an automated solution to keep up with accelerating demand and found success using Mitsubishi Electric Automation’s plug-and-play machine tending solution, LoadMate Plus™.
TL Aerotek, a small-job milling shop customer, experienced a large influx of orders. To keep up with demand, they sought a solution that would alleviate labor uncertainty and help to grow the business. TL Aerotek turned to their long-time supplier of milling machines for support, Expand Machinery. Expand discovered an opportunity to automate the process of loading and unloading materials for the customer’s machine tool, which already used a Mitsubishi Electric M8 Series CNC.
The solution, they hoped, would alleviate the need for manual, constant machine tending. Expand Machinery suggested using Mitsubishi Electric Automation’s engineered solution, LoadMate Plus, to automate the machine tending process. LoadMate Plus is a plug-and-play solution offering to simplify robotic applications and is completely configurable, perfect for stand-alone cells, or to be integrated into a larger solution. For TL Aerotek, the 4×4 machine tending solution was connected to their existing machine tool and was equipped with an RV20, six-axis robot arm. With a simple connection via Ethernet to integrate the LoadMate Plus with the CNC, the compatibility is built right in. After the integration of the solution, the system ran unattended for 24 hours, tripling the normal output that TL Aerotek had originally been experiencing.
“Both companies give me what I need: super support, performance, and reliability,” said Tai Le, Owner of TL Aerotek. “Because my machines are supported by Expand and Mitsubishi Electric, I know that if I do need help, I’ll have it.”
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About Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc.
Headquartered in Vernon Hills, Ill., Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. is a U.S. affiliate company of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. It offers a broad product portfolio including programmable automation controllers (PAC), programmable logic controllers (PLC), human machine interfaces (HMI), variable frequency drives (VFD), servo amplifiers and motors, control software, computerized numerical controllers (CNC), motion controllers, robots, low-voltage power distribution products, and industrial sewing machines for the industrial and commercial sectors.
About Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
With more than 100 years of experience in providing reliable, high- -quality products, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) is a recognized world leader in the manufacture, marketing and sales of electrical and electronic equipment used in information processing and communications, space development and satellite communications, consumer electronics, industrial technology, energy, transportation and building equipment. Mitsubishi Electric enriches society with technology in the spirit of its “Changes for the Better.” The company recorded a revenue of 5,003.6 billion yen (U.S.$ 37,3 billion*) in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023.
*U.S. dollar amounts are translated from yen at the rate of ¥134=U.S.$1, the approximate rate on the Tokyo Foreign Exchange Market on March 31, 2022
About Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation Business Group
Offering a vast range of automation and processing technologies, including controllers, drive products, power distribution and control products, electrical discharge machines, laser processing machines, computerized numerical controllers, and industrial robots, Mitsubishi
Electric helps bring higher productivity – and quality – to the factory floor. In addition, its extensive service networks around the globe provide direct communication and comprehensive support to customers. The global slogan “Automating the World” shows the company’s approach to leverage automation for the betterment of society, through the application of advanced technology, sharing know-how and supporting customers as a trusted partner.
About e-F@ctory
e-F@ctory is Mitsubishi Electric’s integrated concept to build reliable and flexible manufacturing systems that enable users to achieve many of their high speed, information driven manufacturing aspirations. Through its partner solution activity, the e-F@ctory Alliance, and its work with open network associations such as The CC-Link Partners Association (CLPA), users can build comprehensive solutions based on a wide ranging “best in class” principle. In summary, e-F@ctory and the e-F@ctory Alliance enable customers to achieve integrated manufacturing but still retain the ability to choose the most optimal suppliers and solutions.
*e-F@ctory, iQ Platform are trademarks of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation in Japan
and other countries.
*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
*All other trademarks are acknowledged