Machine A machine is a physical system that uses power to apply forces and control movement to perform an action. The term is commonly applied to artificial devices, such as those employing engines or motors, but also to natural biological macromol ...

tending refers to the automated operation of industrial

machine tool A machine tool is a machine for handling or machining metal or other rigid materials, usually by cutting, Boring (manufacturing), boring, grinding (abrasive cutting), grinding, shearing, or other forms of deformations. Machine tools employ some s ...

s in a manufacturing plant, primarily using robot automation systems. While loading and unloading is the primary function of machine tending systems, often the

robot A robot is a machine—especially one Computer program, programmable by a computer—capable of carrying out a complex series of actions Automation, automatically. A robot can be guided by an external control device, or the robot control, co ...

performs other valuable functions within the

automation Automation describes a wide range of technologies that reduce human intervention in processes, mainly by predetermining decision criteria, subprocess relationships, and related actions, as well as embodying those predeterminations in machine ...

system such as part inspection, blow off, wash, deburring, sorting, packaging and gauging. The implementation of automated machine tending tools with CNC machining capabilities facilitates an agile manufacturing approach by enabling quick reprogramming for different parts and reducing reliance on skilled labor, allowing for rapid responses to changing customer demands. Benefits of machine tending systems include: # increased

productivity Productivity is the efficiency of production of goods or services expressed by some measure. Measurements of productivity are often expressed as a ratio of an aggregate output to a single input or an aggregate input used in a production proce ...

# decreased manufacturing labor # decreased overall costs # improved quality # enhanced safety # operational flexibility # inventory optimization Because of the sophistication, functionality, and costs associated with machine tending systems, most manufacturers require a capital approval process prior to investing in these systems where executive management must approve the purchase. Typically, an ROI (

return on investment Return on investment (ROI) or return on costs (ROC) is the ratio between net income (over a period) and investment (costs resulting from an investment of some resources at a point in time). A high ROI means the investment's gains compare favorab ...

) is calculated to justify the purchase.

References

{{Reflist Industrial automation