Robotic automation has wedged open the door to high-speed trimming, deflashing, and chamfering solutions. Manufacturing industries have been pushing toward a path of sustainability, and part of this push is the use of ultrasonic systems.
Ultrasonic Cutting
Ultrasonic cutting utilizes robots that are integrated with cutting tools that separate excess material from a formed or molded part with ultrasonic energy. During this process, the blade emanates microscopic vibrations by way of an electronic pulse that is sent through the cutting tool. This process is very powerful, with the force of the energy that’s created allowing the blade to easily cut through the piece— ultimately providing manufacturers many benefits:
Cuts Are Cleaner
During the ultrasonic process, the blade vibrates at 40kHZ, which reduces the friction of typical cutting by 70 percent. On top of providing materials with cleaner cuts, this feature also seals edges in the same step— making it highly efficient.
The process is well-suited for various non-metallic materials— including film, plastics, CFPR, and non-woven fabrics. This makes ultrasonic cutting ideal for automotive interior parts such as instrument panels, door trim, floor carpet, and HVAC molded components.
More Efficient Than Other Trimming Processes
As we mentioned before, ultrasonic trimming is very energy efficient— less than 1 kWh per trim tool compared to over 20 kWh for waterjet cutting.
The fact that this process is equipped with a robot that is able to use an ultrasonic tool to make very precise and clean cuts with very little pressure saves a lot of energy for more productivity gains.
Additionally, the trimming process allows parts to be trimmed directly from the mold, which allows for better part management where shrinkage is concerned.
Much More Consistent
There is an improvement in part-to-part finish consistency with built-in compliance. Select robot integrators feature active compliance in order to follow shrinking or imprecise part contours.