Cutting edge for oil slick
March 1st 2006 Barr & Platz has supplied and commissioned a fully automated assembly cell for ReedHycalog, world renowned manufacturer of oilfield drill bits. Occupying a footprint of only three metres square, the installation includes the first UK application of the Mitsubishi RV-3S industrial robot, an all-new compact and powerful 6-axis machine, competing for the distinction of being fastest in its class.
The ReedHycalog assembly cell, which also incorporates a 64-bit multi-tasking robot controller and Rexroth EcoSafe modular guarding system, replaces a previous labour-intensive manual operation, assembling hundreds of thousands of fixed cutter PDC cutting elements annually. Aside from maintaining consistent product quality and readily handling a variety of drill bit configurations, the Barr & Platz designed cell has doubled throughput. More articles from Barr & Paatz: | 
