Working closely with its customers, AMS identified the need for a better method for inserting metal fasteners into plastic components. The drive to increase product quality has resulted in the continuous tightening of tolerances which puts pressure on Manufacturers to find better technologies. Traditional methods for inserting preheated fasteners have a wide range of insert depth that is difficult to adjust and doesn’t account for variances in part geometry. Plastic parts are subject to bending and warping depending on the temperature of the component, and their location in a fixture can vary.
As the tolerance tightens, small changes in the part geometry have a larger impact on the part quality and the inserts need to be measured relative to the part and not the arbitrary fixture. By utilizing a distance measurement sensor, AMS is able to accurately insert a fastener to the proper depth every time by adjusting to changes in the part geometry. Using a standard design assembly cell and robot allows for the station to be retooled and redeployed for future programs.