Design for Automation

A small design change in a product or assembly part can make all the difference in the success and economic feasibility of an automation project. Often, products are designed without consideration to automation, particularly vibratory parts feeding.

Read more about vibratory feeding at product design stage

When tooling is not able to distinguish a product's orientation due to either symmetry lack of characteristics, consider making a small change in the part. The drawing below illustrates an actual case where this principle was applied. The initial cost to modify the part was more than offset by the savings in the tooling cost. Inexpensive parts feeders replaced the slow and more costly orienter. The feeders ran at twice the rate of the orienter and reliability was no longer a concern.

Adding a lip to the closed end of this part resulted in less costly and more efficient feeding.

How to Tool a Bowl

• Design for Automation
• Part Size & Weight
• How to Analyze a Part
• Orienting Part Shapes