MPI Introduces Highly Anticipated Second Generation Automated Pattern Assembly System

MPI, the worldwide leader and innovator of wax-room equipment, is proud to introduce the second generation of their revolutionary Automated Pattern Assembly System – the Model 20-14.

The 20-14 is built on MPI’s patented wax-welding process and incorporates significant technological advancements and over ten years of successful customer feedback. “Every aspect of the new system is more robust and capable than its predecessor – the 20-10,” said Bruce Phipps, President of MPI. “It is vastly improved in every regard.”

The 20-14 allows you the flexibility to perform high quality, precision, robotic assemblies from the simplest commercial jobs to the most complex and demanding multi-piece projects found in the medical and aerospace industries – including single crystal blade turbines.

Some of the dramatic improvements include incorporating 6-axis robots where 3-axis robots were formerly used. These versatile robots can easily handle larger, multi-plane, multi-part assemblies.

The second-generation Smart Controls™ are even more intuitive and don’t require any degree of robot training to use. Operators can be trained to produce high-quality assemblies in less than a day.

Other improvements include a 20% larger work envelope, increased pattern capacity, a larger pattern loading station and a larger, ergonomically designed runner station.

The 20-14 features an automatic tool change station with robotic quick-change coupling allowing you to pre-load tools and pre-heat the hot knife for the next job. This reduces job-to-job changeover of tools to less than a minute.

Additionally, robot assembly “recipes” are automatically loaded when the operator scans a bar code on trays or job traveler. This allows the robot to automatically perform optical identification of the proper runner for the job and tells the robot to read the imbedded RFID codes to ensure that the proper tools and products are loaded for that job.

Automation has proven time and again that a robotics-based machine can outperform manually created assemblies in accuracy, repeatability, and efficiency. The new 20-14 takes these performance levels to new heights.

“With automation, assembly variations are completely eliminated, which improves throughput and increases casting yields by up to 30%,” said Jeff Rich, VP/GM of MPI. “Automation allows you to achieve cycle times that are two- to five-times faster than with manual assembly, reduces scrap by an average of 50% and allows you to achieve high-quality welds 100% of the time. One of the most dynamic aspects of the 20-14 is the fact that it is a stand-alone system that can be integrated into a fully automated wax room in the future,” continued Mr. Rich.

The team at MPI offers a free wax-room evaluation where they will perform an exhaustive review of your current process to help you understand what type of return on investment (ROI) you may experience through automation. Contact MPI directly for details.