Solution

SOL-03

Robotics & Handling

Machine Tending

Robot loading for CNC lathes, machining centres and presses, with part buffers and in-cell gauging for unattended runs.

Solution

Robotics & Handling

Machine Tending

Robot loading for CNC lathes, machining centres and presses, with part buffers and in-cell gauging for unattended runs.

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Plan drawing of a robot tending two CNC lathes with a drawer buffer — FIG. 1
Illustrative application drawing · see the linked project record
SOL-03

Problem & outcome

What it solves

Problem & outcome

What it solves

The problem

CNC equipment is often the most expensive asset on the floor, yet it stops whenever the operator is busy elsewhere, on break or off shift. The machining time is available; the loading is not.

The problem

CNC equipment is often the most expensive asset on the floor, yet it stops whenever the operator is busy elsewhere, on break or off shift. The machining time is available; the loading is not.

Intended outcome

Spindle hours in unmanned periods, without a night of scrap.

Typical autonomy

4–8 h unattended

Indicative range · confirmed per project

Typical autonomy

4–8 h unattended

Indicative range · confirmed per project

Engineering

Approach, applications and scope

Engineering

Approach, applications and scope

Technical scope

Engineering approach

We size the part buffer to the autonomy you need, design grippers for the whole part family and integrate gauging so the cell stops — or compensates — before tolerances drift.

Typical applications

CNC lathe and machining-centre loading
Press and press-brake loading
Deburring and washing after machining
In-process measurement

Scope

Machine interface with the CNC builder
Drawer or tray buffers
Gauging and OK/NOK segregation
Operator HMI for batch changeover

Technical scope

Engineering approach

We size the part buffer to the autonomy you need, design grippers for the whole part family and integrate gauging so the cell stops — or compensates — before tolerances drift.

Typical applications

CNC lathe and machining-centre loading
Press and press-brake loading
Deburring and washing after machining
In-process measurement

Scope

Machine interface with the CNC builder
Drawer or tray buffers
Gauging and OK/NOK segregation
Operator HMI for batch changeover

Evidence

Project records

Evidence

Project records

Plan drawing of the two-lathe tending cell

PRJ-0264

Metals & Fabrication

CNC machine tending

Spindle utilisation raised from 54 % to 81 % by running both lathes through an unmanned night period.

Spindle utilisation · %

Weekly output · %

+50

Read project record →

Context

Industries and platforms

Context

Industries and platforms

Industries

IND-01

Automotive & Mobility

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IND-01

Automotive & Mobility

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IND-04

Metals & Fabrication

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IND-04

Metals & Fabrication

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IND-08

Machine Building & General Manufacturing

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IND-08

Machine Building & General Manufacturing

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Technology ecosystem

Industrial Robotics

TEC-06

FANUC

Integration of FANUC robots for machine tending, handling and assembly, including vision-guided picking.

EtherNet/IP · PROFINET

Integrates With

Collaborative Robotics

TEC-09

Universal Robots

Collaborative robot applications with documented risk assessment, for tending, testing and low-payload handling.

EtherNet/IP · PROFINET · Modbus TCP

Integrates With

Industrial Robotics

TEC-05

ABB Robotics

Integration of ABB industrial robots for palletizing, handling and machine tending, including offline simulation.

PROFINET · EtherNet/IP

Integrates With

PLC / PAC

TEC-01

Siemens SIMATIC S7-1500 / TIA Portal

PLC and safety-PLC programming, TIA Portal migrations from legacy S7 and S5 platforms, PROFINET network design.

PROFINET · PROFIsafe · OPC UA

Experience

Resources

Technical notes

Resources

Technical notes

Application Note

Sizing part buffers for unattended machine tending

Machine tending

Application note · 5 min read

Mar 20, 2026

Read

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Sizing part buffers for unattended machine tending

Machine tending

Read

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Insight

Estimating automation payback: what to include

Business case

Article · 6 min read

Sep 9, 2025

Read

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Estimating automation payback: what to include

Business case

Read

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Discuss your machine-tending application

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Talk to an engineer

Discuss your machine-tending application

Start a Project Brief

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Use the Solution Finder

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An engineer replies within one business day.