There is no sense in which a CNC machine can generate production output until it cuts, machines or performs programmed activity. However, many manufacturing companies waste a lot of potential capacity between cycles since somebody needs to load a workpiece, unload the processed part and ready the machine for the next cycle.

For those companies owning expensive machining equipment, such downtime may become a costly burden since the machine was bought and installed; however, its production capacity is underutilized.

The lack of manpower may complicate manual tending even more since a qualified worker must stay nearby just to perform routine loading and unloading operations. This is a waste of qualified labor and makes it difficult for manufacturers to grow production rates without hiring new employees.

Machine tool automation allows solving this problem through shifting of routine tending activities from manual labor to automated processes. Robots can be programmed to take care of workpieces and perform loading/unloading along with the machining process.

There are multiple operational benefits that can result from it. First, the machine will have more time performing productive machining work instead of waiting for someone to operate it. Second, personnel will have more time to do programming, quality inspection, setup, maintenance or some other operation that requires human labor. Third, manufacturers will be able to run their machine tools for a longer period of time per day without having to employ someone for each of the tending cycles.

But in order to automate successfully, there are some factors that need to be taken into account. Manufacturers should take into account part variability, grippers needed, machine interfaces, cycle times, safety, available floor space and frequency of changeovers in production runs.

The best way to begin automating machine tools is by finding out where the utilization of the machines is being lost. By measuring downtime, manufacturers can find out whether manual tending actually prevents them from running at full capacity.

In addition to that, when it comes to manufacturers who have invested heavily in CNC machinery, utilization may prove to be a more realistic approach to increasing their capacity as opposed to purchasing new equipment.