A tool parking rack stored and located interchangeable end tools for an automated tool-change system.
The customer’s challenge
Inaccurate parking positions caused collisions during pickup and created a risk of dropped tools.
Material and fabrication route
2.0 mm Q235 steel; 304 stainless locating pins.
Process route: Laser cutting → bending → welding → powder coating → pin assembly → repeatability testing.
Manufacturing changes
Revised pins and guides established repeatable location. Added lock-state detection and a stiffer rack secured each tool position.
Engineering analysis
Automatic pickup required each parked tool to return to a predictable position and remain secured until transfer. Pins and guides addressed location, while lock-state detection and rack stiffness addressed retention and support. The success rate and repeatability are results of the tested system. They should be evaluated with the tool masses, approach paths and operating sequence used for a comparable installation.
Inspection and project results
Continuous-operation testing recorded ≥99.9% successful pickup and placement without collisions in the tested system.
| Project measurement or production detail | Recorded value |
|---|---|
| Pickup/place success | ≥99.9% |
| Repeatability | ≤0.05 mm |
| Tool positions | ≥6 |
| Load per position | ≥10 kg |
These figures describe the project configuration and production scope above. Dimensional, material and production details are identified separately from performance tests. For a new order, the inspection method and acceptance criteria should be agreed against the released drawings.
Planning a similar OEM component
A useful RFQ for this application should make the following interfaces and acceptance requirements clear:
- Tool geometry, mass and approach path.
- Parking datums and locating pins.
- Lock detection and control interfaces.
- Pickup repeatability and endurance criteria.
Include the current drawing revision, mating-component information, quantities and required delivery sequence. Identifying unresolved requirements at quotation stage helps distinguish fabrication work from the equipment-level checks that the project needs.
For related manufacturing support, review our Robot End-Effector Parking Stands and sheet metal quality capabilities. Use the existing quotation form below to share the drawing package for review.
