Precision Metal Industries Selects Flexxbotics!

Precision Metal Industries (PMI), a leader in precision sheet metal products and complex mechanical assemblies, has selected Flexxbotics to revolutionize its manufacturing process through advanced robotic machine tending. This collaboration aims to enhance robot-driven manufacturing, allowing for autonomous process control in multi-machine operations, resulting in improved production capacity, increased yields, and greater efficiency in unattended operations.

By integrating Flexxbotics’ solutions, PMI has successfully implemented a cellularized manufacturing setup where a single robot manages multiple machines. These include a Haas vertical machining center equipped with tool breakage sensors, a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) for in-line inspection, as well as deburring and cleaning blow-off stations. This setup enables PMI to increase throughput by running an additional ‘lights-out’ shift, leading to a 125% boost in production capacity and a 17:1 machine-to-man ratio.

Flexxbotics’ solution connects the robot seamlessly to the equipment, managing the workflow and providing real-time feedback from inspection results to the CNC machine for continuous operation. This real-time, closed-loop correction ensures that PMI maintains tight tolerances while enhancing the autonomy and efficiency of their operations.

Greg Wilson Jr., owner of Precision Metal Industries, praised Flexxbotics’ ability to automate critical processes like tool breakage detection and tool changes, ensuring continuous production without downtime. Flexxbotics was chosen by PMI for its open connectivity, in-line inspection capabilities, intelligent recovery with tool change automation, and the flexibility to scale operations across the factory.

The solution’s intuitive Human-Machine Interface (HMI) simplifies operations, making it easier for PMI’s staff to manage without requiring complex robot programming. The ability to add additional robots quickly and the focus on continuous improvement through analysis and reporting further supports PMI’s long-term goals for efficient manufacturing.

Flexxbotics is transforming robot-driven manufacturing at scale with its FlexxCORE technology, enabling seamless coordination between robots, existing equipment, and IT systems. With this partnership, PMI is poised to set new standards in smart factory operations and robotic process orchestration, paving the way for next-generation manufacturing environments.