Huichuan and automakers join forces to create a complete set of NC flexible platform electrical solutions

A model change every two to three years, and a generation change every five to six years is a microcosm of the automobile industry. Recently, consumers have increasingly demanded higher quality for automobiles, and the overall demand has become more diversified and personalized. Faced with a rapidly changing market and fierce competition, domestic automobile manufacturers are all looking for a production method that meets the needs of large volumes, multiple varieties, and "adaptability to variant variables."

Inovance Technology X a certain automobile enterprise

NC flexible platform

From resource consumption to resource integration, from single demand to multiple demands, a certain automobile enterprise and Huichuan Technology have joined forces to make production more efficient and flexible, giving new vitality to the enterprise's competitiveness.

The process of automobile manufacturing involves four major links: stamping, welding, painting, and assembly. Welding is a crucial intermediate link in assembling the body in white, which is complex and requires high professionalism.

Traditional single welding production lines can only produce a few types of cars. If new models are to be developed, the welding fixtures must be relocated or relocated after the existing welding lines are redesigned. Therefore, repeated investment in factory buildings, equipment and public power facilities will cause a lot of waste and low flow production efficiency.

On the other hand, the automobile market is changing with each passing day, and traditional welding lines are unable to meet the scale and efficiency requirements of automobile production and meet the needs of product diversification.

The NC flexible platform that changes the fixture positioning according to the needs of different vehicle models can achieve fast and flexible positioning of the body in white, improve production cycle, increase the flexibility of welding equipment, and reduce the cost of developing new models.

This time, Huichuan and a certain automobile enterprise jointly created a complete set of NC flexible platform electrical solutions. Through hardware modularization and program standardization, the design threshold of the NC platform is greatly reduced. The entire electrical solution can be modified on the existing fixture platform, reducing the cost and technical difficulty of the modification.

The production concept that keeps pace with the times and the timeliness and cost advantage

It can meet the needs of flexible production and realize the production of multiple models on the same production line. Although the initial investment cost of the NC platform is higher than that of traditional fixtures, its general equipment and public power facilities can be used permanently after one-time investment. Every time a new model is developed, only some special equipment needs to be added; the pre-set general equipment needs to be modified; the subsequent introduction of new models can complete the compatible production of the fixture through simple debugging.

The time required to replace the fixtures for the introduction of new models is only half of the original time. The introduction of new models required repeated addition of cylinders and disassembly of fixtures, which took several days. The NC platform transformation only requires setting the matching position of the new model, and the fixture introduction time can be saved to half a day at most.

Rapidly improved production pace and quick and easy commissioning

The production cycle has been increased by more than 3 times. The original standard fixtures cannot meet the needs of co-production of multiple models. The robot replaces the fixtures, and the switching cycle takes 60s-180s. The NC flexible platform can switch the fixtures according to the order arrangement to meet the co-production, and the fixture switching only takes 20s-40s. In addition, the three-axis linkage is used to realize path planning and save equipment switching time, which will not affect the production cycle at all.

Platform debugging is easier. Traditional platform debugging is complicated, and each additional model requires equipment manufacturers to assist in programming, which cannot meet the needs of rapid iteration of production. However, the standardization of system programs and the simplification of the operating interface now speed up the equipment introduction cycle and shorten the debugging time of new models. At the same time, a handheld teaching pendant is used for debugging, and the recipe is saved in the system after debugging, without the need for an external CNC machine.

Excellent and powerful expansion capabilities and easy-to-use operation

The NC platform has strong network compatibility and supports mainstream bus communication methods such as ProfiNet, Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP, etc. At the same time, as an independent subsystem, it greatly reduces the computing workload of the main system and has a simple topology structure. It is compatible with a variety of standard interactive interfaces and can achieve rapid docking with production lines. In addition, the platform supports auxiliary equipment actions and can control supporting pneumatic locking fixtures, conveying equipment, etc.

The operating functions are more simplified, and the fixture of new models can be completed by recording the positioning points; the number of flexible units is modularized and can be added or deleted at will; it integrates multiple process applications, supports linear interpolation and spatial interpolation, and shortens the time for switching fixtures.

From a single proprietary model to a diversified flexible model, the automobile manufacturing industry is undergoing earth-shaking changes, and flexible welding lines have gradually become the first choice for domestic automobile factories to build lines. Flexibly adapting to market fluctuations and making timely and rapid adjustments are the key to winning in the ever-changing market.