A beginner’s guide to automation - Part 2 [Best of 2016]

Part 2 of a series of 3 parts. Infeed is the generic term for bringing incoming parts into an automated cell, and outfeed is the term for bringing finished parts away from the cell. The infeed system also presents the incoming part, oriented so the robot can pick it up. The infeed system needs to locate the parts in a repeatable position or pattern that allows the robot to find and pick the parts. There are several things to consider when choosing the infeed/outfeed method.