Automatic sanding

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Automatic sanding

Automatic Sanding of Composite and Metal Materials

Our sister company GEBE2 has developed an automatic sanding solution that reproduces the operator’s gestures and sensitivity. The central element, the end-effector, is equipped with a random orbital electric sander and a compliant device that applies a constant force in all directions, down to the nearest N. This sanding robot enhances productivity and precision in industrial sanding applications.

To enhance the autonomy and performance of their robotic cells, GEBE2’s robot sander is equipped with an automatic disc changer that can handle a variety of grain sizes. This feature ensures that automatic sanding can continue without manual intervention, making it ideal for long production runs.

Sanding quality is strongly related to the regularity of the sander’s motion on the part. Our offline programming software simulates all possible trajectories with a graphical display of material removal, ensuring optimal results for both composite and metal parts.

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THE ADVANTAGES OF OUR ROBOT SANDERS

Flexible configuration

Force control

Integrated vacuum

Automatic disc changer

Robotic sanding - Flexible configuration

Multi-sander effectors for large parts

Disc diameter 29 – 59″

Consistent Surface Finish

From 20 to 100N

sanding cell with excellent dust collection at the source.

Robotic sanding - Automatic disc changer

Disc changer on board the robot

A sanding robot’s autonomy heavily depends on its disc changer. Our patented devices remove used abrasives and automatically loads new ones. Multiple disc feed storage systems can be installed depending on the required grain sizes, making automatic sanding highly efficient.

OUR RANGE OF EFFECTORS

High-performance end-effector

900W robotic sander
Rotary disc 150 to 225mm
Large workpieces
Single- or multi-head

Compact End-Effector

350W robotic sander
Rotary disc 80 to 150mm
Small and medium-sized surfaces and complex geometries
Single- or multi-head

Robotic sanding-offline programming | GEBE2

Automatic sanding - offline programming | GEBE2

Programming sanding operations

GEBE2 provides custom-engineered CAD/CAM software for automatic sanding. This software programs trajectories in hidden time based on the CAD file of the part. The graphic display of material removal guides the programmer and helps him obtain a smooth surface.

Examples of composite and metal sanding using a robot

Robotic composite sanding

Our composite sanding machine is equipped with algorithms that allow the robot sander to sand only where necessary (patent pending) based on various input data like filler thickness color difference between two materials, sheet metal deformation, etc.

ROBOTIC SANDING IN PREPARATION OF PAINT COATING

Our multi-head robot sander is perfectly designed for large parts. The robot ensures a constant force on each disc and performs automatic sanding on flexible, lightweight components using patented technology.

Robotic sanding aerospace nacelle | GEBE2

Sanding of boat shells

When renovating wooden fishing boats, a polyester hull is made by the lay-out and projection of glass fiber with polyester resin.

In this case, the sanding robot can be moved in order to sand the shell by windowing. Programming is semi-automatic – the operator only needs to learn the 4 points that delimit the work area, after which the robot automatically calculates its trajectories whatever the shape of the part.

Robotic sanding of trucks cabs

Our feasibility study has shown that the robotic sander can handle both interior and exterior bodywork sanding with complex geometry in order to prepare parts for coating. The programming is fully simulated on the cabin’s digital file using CAD/CAM software

Robotic sanding of large parts

Robotic sanding cell realized for SABCA. The robot is mounted on a rail allowing to work on large parts (up to 8m length). It is equipped with a laser recognizing the parts and adjust its position.
The robot uses 2 end-effectors to work: a sander with an automated disc change system and an electro-spindle working with different deburring or sanding tools.

More information on the cell with the testimony of Yoann BARON, Manufacturing engineer at SABCA, below

COSMETIC FINISH ON ALUMINUM ALLOY

This metal sanding application is designed to hide machining traces and obtain a uniform appearance over the whole surface of this out-of-round piece. This is achieved using a sensitive sanding effector that apply a constant force along the tool path. The metal sanding machine is still normal to the surface, that optimize the effectiveness of the process and the quality of the part.

Sanding robot for metal parts - cosmetic application - GEBE2 | EMPOWERING TECHNOLOGIES

Polishing machining grooves - GEBE2 | EMPOWERING TECHNOLOGIES

POLISHING MACHINING GROOVES ON TITANIUM

In order to improve the surface appearance of shaped parts post-machining, the robot moves along the workpiece applying a rotary tool fitted with an abrasive material with a controlled force. Great care has been taken to create trajectories in order to obtain uniform roughness. This polishing operation can be combined with a random orbital sanding operation for finishing.

ALUMINUM PANEL STRIPPING

Stripping removes all machining traces that could reduce part fatigue strength including, in particular, aircraft wing panels. This application uses rotary tools associated with a compliance that guarantees uniform treatment.

Aluminium panel stripping - GEBE2 | EMPOWERING TECHNOLOGIES

Automation of metal finishing operations for SABCA

Discover the interview of Yoann BARON, Manufacturing engineer at SABCA. (video in French)

Why SABCA decided to automate the sanding and deburring operations ? And how GEBE2 met SABCA’s needs ?

More information on the cell with the full video of the sanding process in the application examples above

Download our dedicated brochure about robotic sanding

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