Motor Assembly

Vrades plans and implements semi and fully automatic assembly lines for engines. According to the customer’s requirements and quantities, plants with a cycle time of about 20 seconds or more are built.

Function volume

The heavy assembly systems for motor assembly by Vrades are used for the semi-automatic and fully automatic assembly of heavy passenger car sub-assemblies such as raw engine blocks. The systems are based on a component carrier transfer system with free circulation and comprise all required feeding, linking and handling fixtures, being mounted on welded base racks.  As handling system, also robots are used. The stations serve for joining e.g. by screwing and inserting. In addition, the systems comprise measuring and testing tasks e.g. presence and assembly controls, leak tests or electro-mechanical function tests. Automatic stations as well as manual workplaces in foolproof design can be integrated in the production sequence.

 

Application range

The assembly systems for engine assembly are customized special purpose systems for the automated assembly of heavy passenger car units. Application range is the pre- and final assembly of automobile units in monitored and documented quality, with usual component weights of up to 250 kg. Higher weights are possible, specific for the application. Typical sub-assemblies to be assembled are raw engine blocks (motor blocks), cylinder heads, converters, couplings, planetary gears and control units for manual and automatic transmissions. User industry is the automobile industry and its sub-suppliers.

 

Product features

– Customized assembly system for the assembly of raw engine blocks and heavy passenger car units

– Base racks in welded construction

– (Typical) component weights: max. 250 kg or application-specific

– Integration of manual workplaces possible

– Customer-specific interface for connection to a master computer, data filing

 

Function principle

The engine block is placed into a part-dedicated support on a component carrier and fed to the process stations by a linking system with free circulation. Depending on the respective case, several process stations are combined in a cell on a common machine rack. A flexible design of the systems for changing products or product variants is possible. For handling of parts to be joined, also robots can be used. Important joining processes are screwing operations by single or multiple torqueing units and insertion operations with force-path monitoring, each with documentation. The assembly steps may include the application of sealants or the dosing of lubricants etc. Possible test steps are e.g. presence and assembly controls, integrated leak tests, flow tests for oil or cooling water circuit as well as electro-mechanical function tests. Manual assembly places which are designed foolproof can be integrated in the assembly system and these are monitored e.g. by identification systems and automated assembly controls.

 

Structure

The assembly systems are developed and supplied as customized turnkey solution by Vrades. The systems are realized as far as possible with modular components from our own manufacture in the requested automation degree. A flexible design for changing products or product variants is possible. Typically, the systems are based on a component carrier transfer system with free circulation and are mounted on solid, welded base racks.

 

The systems are based on a pallet transfersystem which may include several rotary index tables. They always comprise all required processing, handling and control systems. Automatic stations as well as manual work places can be integrated in the production sequence. Apart from joining and assembly, the systems assume measuring and testing operations such as integrated tightness checks and electro-mechanic function checks. In addition, adjustments of the preliminary settings can be carried out. The system can be changed over quickly to  different product variants.