Automotive Stamping Line: How a Fully Automated Process Stamps 18 Parts per Minute

Summary

In a stamping line, robots pick metal sheets from stacks and place them onto conveyors to prepare material for subsequent stamping. High-speed double-sheet detection ensures smooth production. The automotive stamping line is not only a feat of speed but also of smart manufacturing. Through full automation, intelligent material changeover, and digital workshops, manufacturing is entering a new era.

This month, Atonm engineers visited multiple machine tool factories in Jinan to reveal how an automotive stamping line can produce 18 stamped parts per minute. This remarkable throughput is achieved by a set of efficient, intelligent processes that revitalize auto parts manufacturing.

Stamping Shop Process:

1. Automated transport:

Sheets are moved by electric trackless heavy-load carriers to the depalletizing area. Two carriers alternate to keep production continuous, improving efficiency and reducing manual intervention.

2. Depalletizing:

Once a carrier is in position, depalletizing splits stacks into individual sheets for robot pickup. Efficient depalletizing directly affects downstream operations.

3. Robot loading & single/dual-sheet detection:

Robots lift metal sheets onto conveyors and must perform single/dual-sheet detection during pickup to avoid overlapped sheets entering the press, which could damage dies and waste materials.

Due to electrostatic attraction, sheets may adhere, causing overlaps. Detection must occur instantly without affecting robot motion.

Atonm MDSC-9000S adopts a two-channel single-sensor dual-sheet detection technique that is both efficient and precise. The sensor can be installed near the suction cup so that detection occurs during robot pickup without affecting the robot path. High-speed detection ensures smooth production.

The two-channel design lets one host connect two sensors to monitor two positions simultaneously, enabling concurrent detection at different locations and improving detection speed and accuracy.

4. Cleaning:

Cleaning removes oil and contaminants from sheet surfaces to protect material quality and extend die life.

5. Secondary single/dual-sheet detection:

As an added safeguard, a secondary horizontal detection with a dual-sensor detector (MDSC-1200C) ensures no overlaps before stamping. MDSC-1200C is designed for large fully automated lines and supports MES communication, allowing easy board-signal switching after material changes.

6. Stamping:

Using multi-mode high-efficiency presses (one machine with two or four dies) and multiple robots loading simultaneously, several parts can be formed in a single stroke, realizing a highly efficient process from pickup to stamping.

Automated material changeover:

Key aspects of material changeover include:

Automatic end-effector change:

Robots automatically swap end-effectors to match sheet size and thickness, maintaining line flexibility and efficiency.

Fast sensor-change interface:

Sensors are fast-mounted to end-effectors with quick-connect interfaces, greatly reducing material changeover time and enabling rapid wiring changes.

This innovation is widely used on automotive lines, completing changeovers within 3 seconds and significantly improving throughput. It combines industrial internet, AI, and 5G technologies to enable digital workshops.

Digital workshop innovation:

Digital workshops integrate design, process, production, and manufacturing collaboration. This revolution raises efficiency, lowers costs, and adds agility to manufacturing. The automotive stamping line demonstrates smart manufacturing, where automation and digitalization drive productivity and sustainability.

Finally, attached is product information for the Atonm MDSC-9000S (PDF). Feel free to review.