Cobot Relieves Workers of Physical Strain

Hundreds of robots were already in use at the motor saw manufacturer STIHL when the company decided to add its first collaborative robot.

The start-up of production only took three days due to intensive preparation. STIHL’s in-house production engineering team spent a whole year developing the technical requirements and preparing the workplace for the FANUC CR-35𝑖A. The team of group leader, André Lange, who is responsible for service and hardware planning, benefited from the close familiarity with FANUC robot technology: “This allowed us to concentrate on implementing the concept of the collaborative workplace”, says Lange. 

In the new packaging line, the task of the robot is to remove the cut-off saw from a suspended conveyor, to carry out a “shake test” and then to keep it suspended until the final visual inspection is completed. The robot then places the cut-off saw in a ready prepared shipping box. In this collaboration area, the robot only moves at the permitted speed of 250 mm/s. 

The shake test is an acoustic quality test, whereby the cut-off saw is shaken. If a "click" sound can be heard, the suction head is correctly fitted and the cross-cut saw can be packed. 

As a single cut-off saw weighs around 10 kg, this amounts to a total lifted weight of around eight tonnes per shift, per employee. Therefore, the robot provides considerable relief for the employee. 

The packing line staff were involved from the outset in the project. Not only were they able to give an expert assessment of the test set-up, they also influenced the design and ergonomics which in turn increased the acceptance amongst the workforce. Markus Wahl, from the Production Engineering department at STIHL and responsible for building the assembly systems: “The packing line employees have introduced many good ideas that we have implemented.”