Which plastic machine parts can be produced automatically?

Ten guides this week, a series of bearing bushes next week and five gears in a month's time for a machine that has been in the field for years. This is increasingly what demand in mechanical engineering looks like: a lot of variety, fluctuating quantities and little room for long lead times.

To respond to this, Lakwijk produces a large share of its plastic machine parts automatically. Robots load the machines and production carries on, even when the factory is empty. In this blog you can read which parts are suitable for this and what it delivers for you as a machine builder or buyer.

What automated production at Lakwijk involves

Robotic loading and round-the-clock production

In automated production, a robotic arm places the material in the machine. The loaders are filled with material, after which the machine independently machines one part after another. This allows production to run 24 hours a day, including at night and at weekends.

Craftsmanship remains the foundation

Automation does not replace the machinist. Our specialists program the parts, set up the machines and check production. The robot takes over the repetitive work, so the knowledge and experience of our machinists are used where they add the most value.

From large series to a large product mix

For a long time, automation was mainly cost-effective for large series. Lakwijk now focuses specifically on high mix, low volume: a wide variety of parts in smaller quantities. This means that single pieces and small series can also be produced efficiently and just-in-time.

Which parts are produced automatically?

Automated production is particularly suitable for compact machine parts that are milled or turned. These are the parts that recur in large numbers and variations in machines for, among others, the food industry and conveyor systems:

• Guides, guide profiles and chain guides
• Sliding blocks, slide blocks and stop blocks
• Bearing bushes, guide bushes and plain bearings
• Gears, sprockets and pulleys
• Guide rollers, running rollers and conveyor rollers
• Star wheels and dosing wheels

Guides and sliding parts

Guides make up the bulk of what Lakwijk produces. They are found in sorting machines, slaughtering machines and conveyor systems, where they keep chains and products on the right track. Because no two machines are the same, every guide is different too. It is precisely this variety that makes automated production so valuable here.

Round parts

Bearing bushes, rollers and gears are usually turned from rod stock. These are parts that are often needed in larger quantities and that lend themselves well to automated series production.

Milling and turning, both automated

Automated milling

For plastic milling, Lakwijk has 3-axis and 5-axis CNC milling machines, including simultaneous 5-axis machining. This allows free contours, cut-outs, bevelled edges, drilled holes and tapped holes to be made in a single process, without the part having to be manually re-clamped in between.

Automated turning

Plastic turning uses a bar feeder. Several bars of material are processed one after the other, so that round parts can be produced efficiently in series.

Turning and milling combined

Not every part is completely round or completely flat. Turn-mill combinations bring both operations together, so that a part is finished in one go as much as possible. This saves handling and shortens the lead time.

Which materials are processed?

The most commonly used plastics for automatically produced parts are POM, PA and HMPE. These materials are amply in stock, so production can start quickly. For the food industry, they are also available as food grade certified plastic, often in blue for better detectability.

Which material is most suitable depends on the application. Does the part need to slide well, be dimensionally stable or withstand impacts? Will it be exposed to moisture, heat or cleaning? Based on this, we advise you on the right material.

What does automated production offer you?

• Efficient at any batch size: from a single piece to larger series, without small quantities becoming disproportionately expensive.
• Just-in-time delivery: because machines keep running outside working hours, there is more capacity to deliver on time.
• Repeatability: parts are produced in the same way every time, which is important for repeat orders and spare parts.
• Future-proof: Lakwijk is working to link its automated processes ever more closely, so that capacity continues to grow.

Produced automatically, fully customised

Automated does not mean standard. Every machine builder designs their machines in their own way, and the parts must fit them exactly. That is why every part is made on the basis of your PDF technical drawing and 3D model, such as a STEP file. This applies to new machines as well as to replacement parts in existing installations.

Would you like to know whether your machine parts are suitable for automated production? Contact Lakwijk. We will gladly review your drawing, the choice of material and the most efficient production method with you.