Storage & Retrieval
Engineered Machine Tool custom designs and builds special application tool storage and retrieval systems.
Pictured is a Tool Pallet Storage and Retrieval system designed and built to handle aircraft skins. (Click on photos for larger versions.)
This is a 21 pallet system which permanently stores
45 different holding fixtures. This system services
two robot polish cells which are used to polish aircraft skins. These fixtures
are up to 35-feet in length, 9-feet in width, 3 1/2 feet tall, and weigh up to
10,000 pounds. This system can hold 21 tool pallets.
The system includes a designated storage bay for each of the pallets, two load/unload
stations for incoming and outgoing materials, and two polish stations located inside
the robotic polish cells.
Tool pallets are stored in a four high storage rack
system, with the first level being below floor level. A 78-inch depth pit
was required. A cell controller manages the automatic pallet
transfers between storage, load/unload stations, and machine cells. The
cell controller manages pallet traffic, material management, and fixture
management. The cell controller also incorporates a graphical diagnostics
system to aid in system maintenance.
Our client's previously
stored their fixtures away from the work cell and transported them in as
required. Overhead cranes were used to load the cells. This method
of tool change took from 3 to 6 hours. With the new EMT system, a tool
change is completed in less than 15 minutes.