Special Machines

THESE ARE EXAMPLES OF SPECIAL MACHINES MADE BY AAA

Filter Winding Machine

This is one of six filter winding machines built by AAA tool & Die for the passenger side airbag. The filters are used to distribute the explosive gases that acivate the air bag. The machine unwinds a coil of stainless steel wire mesh and feeds it to a welding station where the filter is welded to the wire mesh. This assembly is fed through a cutoff station, then rolled into a cylindrical filter. At the roll up station, the filter is welded as an assembly and its circumference is measured. This measurement is fed into the machine's computer, which controls the quality of the filter's diameter. A good filter is transferred to the pressure test station, while a bad filter is rejected. A good filter's pressure capacity is tested in the last astation, and either accepted or rejected.

This machine uses an Allen Bradley PLC 2, three Allen Bradley IMC 120s and three Allen Bradley 1391 AC servo controllers to command the three electrical servo axes, two pneumatic axes, and all remaining I/O.


Gantry Robot

This is one of fourteen Gantry Robots designed and built by AAA for Owens Corning in Mount Pleasant, Pa. The Gantry transfers a thirty-five inch monitor through six polishing machines that are eitghty inches apart. The sixtypund monitor is held by an eight-inch diameter suction cup as it is transferred between the polishing machines.

The Gantry measures 7'x7'x50' as shown on its four assembly and shipping fixtures.

Last Updated : September 4, 2002