Persico and ABB working together for the automotive industry

The Eco-cut system manufactured by Persico for the automatic cutting of linings for car interiors features two ABB IRB 2400/16 anthropomorphic robots with the Absolute Accuracy function. A high-frequency oscillating blade cutting technology was chosen in order to optimise the machining process, as it meets all the needs of this specific case. The result is a very compact system which operates using compressed air alone. Thanks to this choice, it has been possible to create a machine that occupies very little space, ensures clean processing, allows extremely quick setting-up operations, and features high connectivity with the plant’s computer systems, relatively low costs and reusable tools.

Installed at the facilities of a leading European car maker, the machine can cut linings for six different vehicle models (each of which is produced in different versions) at a cycle time of one minute per article; it receives, in real time, information on the type and version to be machined directly from the production department’s computer system and it can switch version and type of cutting in 7 seconds. For this type of processing, it is crucial to be able to rely on accurate off-line programming for the setup of the cutting equipment, which, thanks to the Absolute Accuracy function, can then be transferred with the utmost accuracy to the two ABB IRB 2400/16 robots installed on the machine. This part of the project was developed together with ABB using the program RobotStudio, which is able to fully meet the needs of the customer.

This collaboration has proved both effective and ideal, one advantage of it being the availability of a research and development centre that was able to support the company’s technicians involved in this project. The extremely important and delicate phase concerning the automatism and the means of transferring the robots’ operating paths was addressed jointly and the reassuring and reliable input of the expert technicians from ABB, who were able to rapidly grasp what was required and come up with optimal solutions, was undoubtedly one of the factors contributing to the success of the project. Persico is constantly investing in this product, continually seeking to innovate it: an evolution of the product is imminent (and will be patented, with reference in particular to the cutting system). The aim is to simplify, even more, the maintenance of the head and to make the machine more reliable and also usable in other settings.