Considering Flexible Automation? Try Our Complexity Calculator
We know many companies are considering flexible automation solutions to solve a variety of challenges such as labor shortages and safety concerns. Cobots are a type of flexible automation solution that boast easy deployability and the potential to be repositioned and repurposed within your facility. While some might believe that anyone can deploy a cobot due to its simple interface, setting up a dependable and consistently functioning cobot cell might still require the expertise of a skilled programmer.
But where to start? Do you buy a cobot and integrate it yourself? Do you hire an integrator? Something in between? The experts at Cross Automation built this complexity calculator to help you decide. Simply rate your application on a scale of 1 to 10 in areas like throughput, reach, payload and connectivity to discover the best path to automating your dull, dirty or dangerous tasks.
Testing Manually?
Consider an Automated Custom Test Machine
Product testing plays a critical role in ensuring quality, reliability and performance in the medical device industry. If you’re testing products manually, you may benefit from an automated test machine created specifically to your test procedure. Cross’s engineering team will review your existing internal, ISO, or ASTM test procedure and work with you to develop a machine to automate the process. Our custom test machines will also collect test data so that you can make decisions in real-time to improve your manufacturing process.
What's New at Cross
Need high level, non-contact 3D surface roughness measurement?
Cross partner Mahr suggests the MarSurf CM, a compact, confocal microscope for 3D measurement analysis of surfaces – contactless, material independent and fast! It’s a flexible, all-around surface measurement solution ideal for medical device manufacturers.
The MarSurf CM’s design is robust enough for both the production floor and the lab. It’s capable of measuring:
- Roughness measurements per
- ISO 4287 & ISO 13565 / ISO 25178
- Topography measurements (including volume, wear, tribology)
- 2D and 3D contour and form
- Pore and particle analysis
- Defect detection
The CM’s flexible interface offers an intuitive layout for easy use by operators in a production environment while also supporting regulatory compliance.
Did you know?
Custom fixtures improve efficiency and maintain repeatability when inspecting a high volume of parts
If you are inspecting a high number of parts, whether with a vision machine, a CMM or a force testing stand, a custom fixture could help you improve your efficiency while still maintaining the highest standards of repeatability.
Cross Company has significant experience in working with customers to understand what measurements they need and what the unique challenges are of the part they are trying to measure. Our engineering team then develops creative yet simple fixture solutions which are easy to load and hold the part for measurement. We’ve used vacuums, clips, magnets and more to secure the parts. Read about four particularly complex features we designed in this case study featuring Technimark, an injection molder working with the healthcare and consumer products companies.
Cross Provides Tangible Value for You
Improve Efficiency
Nebulizer applications are challenging because the medication must be precisely delivered with ultra-low pressure and limited power. Cross vendor Clippard recently worked with a medical device manufacturer to modify one of their standard valves to meet the needs of their nebulizer.
The solution was cost effective but maintained fuctionality and chemical compatibility. Their 10 and 15mm valves are ideal for these small space applications that require a fast, precise dose of medication. By modifying an existing design, Clippard was able to save the customer time and money.
Improve Efficiency
With increasing levels of automation on the plant floor, gripping components must be both flexible and easily networked. The new EGU universal gripper from Cross partner Schunk has a long stroke and integrated gripping force maintenance, to reliably load or unload rough or finished parts of different sizes. It has a sealed design which can stand up to harsh temperatures or contaminants in the environment.
Improve Efficiency
Cross partner Prolink Software makes SPC data collection easy so you and your team aren’t wasting time manually collecting data. In the fall, their flagship products, QC-CALC and QC-Gage will have major upgrades.
Since many customers are still running version 3.4 of their software, which will no longer be supported, they are offering customers who own version 3.4 software and do not have maintenance in place a chance to upgrade their software at a 40% discount off normal upgrade charges and will also receive 50% off maintenance when purchased at the same time.
