Solara’s customer manufactures components of automotive drive axles.  The requirements for the station were to first inspect previous assembly step, to stake the part, and last to inspect the staking process.

Solara engineered and built a single-robot cell.  After the previous assembly step, the operator loads parts into pucks on an oval track conveyor.  The robot uses a dual gripper tool to pick the part and transfer it to an inspection station.

To verify assembly of the internal components and the correct processing of exterior grooves before staking the components into place permanently, three Keyence cameras inspect the part while on a servo rotary. An overhead camera also outputs orientation data to the robot for proper part loading into the staking press.

After the parts are staked, the robot picks and holds the part under the final camera to confirm staking. Passed parts are placed on outfeed conveyor.   Reject parts are placed into different drawer locations by type of defect and by mold cavity they were processed in.