Mission Design & Automation integrated Dispense Buddy, a dispense application within The Buddy System series of collaborative, light-automation robotic solutions, to help solve challenges faced by a customer in the lighting industry. Read the case study below to learn more. 

 

Customer Challenge

A manufacturer needed to update their process to prevent moisture buildup inside an electronic module. Their existing process had a sealing flaw that allowed moisture to buildup in rivets, leading to part corrosion, risk of product failures, and potential recalls. They required a solution to improve part quality without overhauling their entire production line.

Solution: The Buddy System Dispense Unit

Mission Design & Automation implemented The Buddy System’s Dispense Buddy unit, modifying it to integrate with the customer’s existing process, allowing them to process over $20MM worth of product in under three weeks.

Dispense Buddy

 

Modifications and Key Features Included:

  • GP Reeves Single Component Dispense Head tailored to customer’s specific potting compound
  • Integrated with UV Curing Station
  • Compact, mobile, and non-disruptive to the existing process
  • Integrated a FANUC CRX Collaborative Robot

 

New Sequence of Operations:

  1. Dispense potting compound on five (5) parts
  2. Stage parts in UV curing station
  3. Activate curing process by closing drawer
  4. Continue dispensing while previous batch cures

 

Customer Benefits

This approach provided a simple, cost-effective dispense and curing station without disrupting production or requiring extensive operator retraining.

Dispense BuddyBy integrating The Buddy System, the customer:

  • Launched production in just three weeks with an enhanced sealing process
  • Eliminated moisture-related failures, reducing recall risks
  • Tested and validated the solution before investing in custom automation
  • Created a flexible rework station for future product updates
  • Processed $20M worth of product in three weeks

 

The customer considered alternatives such as modifying their existing automated production line, which would have caused production to stop during the process renovation; and having team members manually dispense the potting compound, which would have garnered inconsistent results.

Ultimately, The Buddy System won because of its quick implementation, low cost, minimal training requirements and proven performance.

Learn More about The Buddy System

Ready to learn more about how The Buddy System can help your business thrive? Let’s chat.