{"id":5208,"date":"2022-11-17T16:58:01","date_gmt":"2022-11-17T21:58:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robodk.com\/blog\/?p=5208"},"modified":"2024-11-15T16:56:48","modified_gmt":"2024-11-15T21:56:48","slug":"robot-pipe-milling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robodk.com\/blog\/robot-pipe-milling\/","title":{"rendered":"How Sunrob Uses a Shipping Container for Robot Pipe Milling"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do you want to improve the speed of your pipe milling operations? Sure, automation is a good option\u2026 but, you might wonder, aren’t robots complex and don’t they take up a lot of space?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this case study, we look at how one long-time RoboDK user has created an ingenious, commercial pipe milling solution. It’s completely self-contained and all fit inside a shipping container!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Like many manufacturing sectors, pipe milling is a growing market. But with increasing demand for pipe milling comes a problem\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can you perform more milling operations when your production processes are already maxed out?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Your Pipe Milling Operations Are Too Slow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The problem many manufacturers face is that their pipe milling processes are too slow. Conventional CNC machines require a lot of time to cut and mill large tubes and pipes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This slow speed becomes even more problematic when you need to mill large pipes (an operation that is set to increase in demand by 140% by 2026). Often it involves doing several smaller milling operations and resetting the machines between each one, which is very time-consuming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robots are an excellent solution for milling large pipes and tubes. They have a huge workspace and you can apply them to a wider range of milling processes. This makes robot milling a good solution over conventional CNC processes.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robot milling solutions work fine for all sizes of soft metal pipes (copper, aluminum, etc), small wall-thickness steel pipes, and all-size plastic pipes. Steel pipes of 0.08in or bigger wall thickness are still mostly cut using plasma, waterjet or laser connected to a robot arm. Robots can easily mill and cut pipes up to diam 40in and with a rotation table positioner easily 80in pipes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Space and Complexity: The Challenges of Using Robots<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What stops some manufacturers from using robots is the perceived complexity of deploying them and the extra space the robots require.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As well as purchasing the robot itself, you also need to source all the extra components needed to perform the milling task. Then, you need to find enough space in your facility to house the robot and these components, along with all the safety fencing and sensors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wouldn’t it be great if you could just buy a self-contained robot cell that includes everything you need for pipe milling?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Re)introducing Sunrob Robotics\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sunrob Robotics is a provider of advanced robotic applications. Based in Finland, they specialize in robotic pipe milling solutions. They also offer a range of other robotic solutions including packaging and 3D printing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We previously reported on the team’s use of RoboDK for an agile tube-cutting solution<\/a> for their clients, and their milling solution for custom ice hockey sticks.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With their latest project, Sunrob Robotics seeks to meet the rising need for more self-contained robotic cells. Using RoboDK, they have created a pipe milling solution\u2026 that fits in a shipping container!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunrob’s Pipe Milling Solution in a Container<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The concept behind Sunrob’s pipe milling solution is that you can deploy it to your facility as a single, self-contained unit. It comes as a ready-to-use application for a completely customized pipe manufacturing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The robot and all the required components come pre-installed in a standard shipping container.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You don’t need to worry about how much space the robot and its associated components will take up in your facility \u2014 you just save enough space for one container and you know that will be enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using a shipping container also removes the need to purchase and install safety fencing around the robot \u2014 you simply close the side of the container (which Sunrob has replaced with a roll door) and the robot can operate safely. And it means that the robot cell can be used outdoors or indoors, to suit your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hardware Setup<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The robot cell is based around the following hardware components:<\/p>\n\n\n\n