Document the machine interface
Record machine make and model, available I/O or communication, door actuation, chuck or vise control, cycle start, completion signals and safe access. Identify who may modify the machine and validate the interface.
- Door and workholding automation
- Ready, cycle and fault signals
- Machine modification responsibility
Define part presentation and EOAT
Explain how raw parts arrive, orientation tolerance, batch size and how finished parts leave. Include part cleaning, chips, coolant, temperature and whether a dual gripper or quick-change fingers are required.
- Tray, conveyor, drawer or bin
- Part mass and grip surfaces
- Finished-part buffer and rejects
Calculate the real cell cycle
Separate robot loading time, machine process time, unloading, cleaning, gauging and buffer handling. The goal is higher utilization, not simply the fastest robot move.
- Machine idle time during exchange
- Secondary operations
- Target unattended run duration
Plan changeover and fault recovery
List foreseeable failures such as missed pick, wrong orientation, open door, chuck fault, machine alarm and failed inspection. Define how the cell stops, informs an operator and resumes safely.
- Recipe and tooling changeover
- Fault detection and operator prompts
- Safe restart and part disposition
Decision checklist
Use the same inputs when comparing supplier proposals.
| Decision area | Inputs to confirm |
|---|---|
| Document the machine interface | Door and workholding automation; Ready, cycle and fault signals; Machine modification responsibility |
| Define part presentation and EOAT | Tray, conveyor, drawer or bin; Part mass and grip surfaces; Finished-part buffer and rejects |
| Calculate the real cell cycle | Machine idle time during exchange; Secondary operations; Target unattended run duration |
| Plan changeover and fault recovery | Recipe and tooling changeover; Fault detection and operator prompts; Safe restart and part disposition |
Move from research to a commercial review
Send the machine, part and current cycle to turn this checklist into a cell concept.