DEPRAG-Micropsi Automated Screwdriving

Micropsi Industries and DEPRAG jointly offer an automated screwdriving solution that can handle variance in manufacturing workstations. It overcomes complexities in screwdriving assembly processes that are extremely hard for most automation systems, quite expensive too. The solution is applicable to the assembly of whitegoods, electronics, automotive parts, agricultural machinery, and more.

The Challenges of Automated Screwdriving

Screwdriving assembly processes are common in all manufacturing industries. In essence, the aim of these processes is to realize a secure connection between two or more parts by means of a screw or multiple screws. While this may seem straightforward, automating a screwdriving assembly process is exceedingly difficult. This is due to several types of variance that arise in production workstations that involve screwdriving:

Variance in the position of parts in the workstation. This makes the precise location of screw holes unpredictable. Position variance is particularly troublesome when parts cannot be fixed in a workpiece carrier. Even when parts are placed in a workpiece carrier, they can still vary in their position by up to a few millimeters.
Variance in the part itself, a result of production tolerance, which can make the screw-hole location on a workpiece uncertain.
Variance of the angle at which to insert a screw, owing to an unpredictable location of a screw hole or to unaligned screw holes when there are two or more parts that must be connected.

Getting around this complexity is nearly insurmountable for traditional automation systems, which require uniform conditions. As a result, many screwdriving assembly tasks must be done with human hands. The same applies to nuts, studs, and flow-form screws.

DEPRAG-Micropsi Collaboration

To take up the challenge of automating screwdriving assembly, Micropsi Industries has teamed up with DEPRAG, which produces screwdriving systems as well as specialized machines, robot cells, and assembly lines. DEPRAG has a wide range of manufacturing customers.

The collaboration brings together DEPRAG’s screwdriving technology with Micropsi Industries’ MIRAI robot control system. Using artificial intelligence, MIRAI enables robots to deal with complexity in production that would be otherwise impossible or extremely difficult to get around with hand-engineered solutions, prohibitively expensive as well. MIRAI attaches to and augments industrial robots. Once fitted with MIRAI, a robot can perceive its workspace and correct its movement where needed as it performs a task. MIRAI can be easily and quickly trained or retrained for myriad tasks by those with no background in engineering or artificial intelligence.

Screwdriving Solution Setup

Micropsi Industries and DEPRAG conducted and documented a test case. The aim was to drive four screws into an electronic module, joining a top piece with a base piece. Both MIRAI and DEPRAG’s screwdriving technology were attached to a Universal Robots UR16e. The task consists of four sections:

The robot positions the screw (fed to the screwdriver by the DEPRAG feeding system) 50-60 mm from the screw hole on the module. At this position, the robot’s native controller will hand over control to the MIRAI system.
The MIRAI system assumes control of the robot, positioning the screw tip just above the threaded hole.
The DEPRAG system assumes control. It inserts and secures the screw to a specific torque value or angle position. Simultaneously, the srewdriver is fed another screw.
Under the guidance of its native controller, the robot pulls back and approaches the next hole in the electronic module (step 1).

With this setup, the system is able to handle variance in the position of the electronic modular in the workstation as well as variance in the angle at which to insert the screws into the holes.

This automated screwdriving solution — or a modified version of it — is applicable to the assembly of whitegoods, electronics, automotive parts, agricultural machinery, and more. It can be set up and be made ready for deployment in less than one working day.

Talk to an automation expert to learn more about the DEPRAG-Micropsi automated screwdriving solution and what it can do for your operation.

The MIRAI robot control system consists of both software and hardware.

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Return on Investment

The return on investment for this solution (MIRAI plus a collaborative robot) is less than one year. This particular scenario assumes a standard robot cell, a two-shift operation, and a cost of €43,200 for each factory worker.

Book a Demo

Would you like to schedule a free MIRAI demo? Want to learn more about the system and what it can do for your operation? Talk to one of our automation experts.

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