A 5-Minute Guide to Continuous Motion Assembly Hardware and Machine Components
Manufacturing is a highly competitive industry. In order to succeed, it’s critical for manufacturers to increase production rates without sacrificing the integrity or quality of the product. Continuous motion assembly machinery allows manufacturers to create dedicated parts or products over an extended period of time. Below, you can learn more about the hardware and components associated with this machinery.
Understanding Continuous Motion Machinery
A continuous motion machine allows a manufacturer to produce specific products over long periods of time. They offer incredible precision, a phenomenal output rate, better overall efficiency, and a smoother overall process that reduces the chance of component damage. Because the machine’s speed remains steady, there are no jerky stops and starts, which is important to consistency and quality. It’s also ideal for situations in which accuracy is a key factor since it provides consistent alignment. While continuous motion machinery is designed for producing a dedicated product, it can typically be adjusted to accommodate slight variations in that product.
Things to Consider when Buying Machinery
Manufacturers who are interested in automating some or all of their production have numerous continuous motion assembly machine options available to them. Some of the most important considerations for buying a machine include:
- Size and Footprint – Size is an important consideration as it will ultimately determine the amount of equipment that can be safely housed on the production floor and assembly line. The size of the equipment can vary a great deal based on the type of product it produces, its production capacity, and even the number of components included.
- Parts Per Minute – Each machine is capable of making a certain number of parts per minute. The number of parts per minute will have a direct impact on overall output, so it’s important to consider it very carefully before making a buying decision.
- Number of Components – Continuous motion assembly machines have multiple components, or pieces, that must be used together. The number of components varies a great deal. In some cases, machines that have multiple components offer a great deal of production flexibility. For example, manufacturers may be able to position certain components in a way that works best for their production floor needs.
- Cycle Time – Cycle time is the time it takes the machine to create a single product. Like parts per minute, cycle time is important because it’s an indication of how many parts or products that machine can make during an average shift or workday.
- Process Type – Continuous motion assembly machines are also capable of accommodating almost any process. These processes include things like assembly, dispensing, curing, printing, screwdriving, welding, functional testing, crimping, and more.
Continuous motion assembly machines give manufacturers the ability to make quality parts and products quickly, consistently, and efficiently. By learning more about the benefits of these machines and their capabilities, manufacturers can make the right choices for their unique needs and build an assembly line that perfectly suits their products.