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CASE IN POINT :: FANUC M20iA six-axis robot waits for completion of measurement cycle before transferring acceptable parts to an engraving station and then to shipping container at immediate right. Programmable Gages Help Create Automation Cell Edited by Lori Beckman onroe Machine (Conroe, Texas) is doing what most machine shops only dream of: hard turning a family of parts around the clock in an unmanned cell that operates a "self-controlled" process. Te turning cell, with software and programming developed by CNC Programmer James Wardell and Robotics Technician Jef Buck integrates a Fanuc robot with Renishaw's Equator gaging system, using Renishaw EZ-IO software to provide comprehensive communication for part inspection and auto-compensation of a twin-spindle Okuma lathe. Te cell also boxes and palletizes fnished parts. According to the company, the cell paid for itself in only 18 days. Te same automation team has gone on to create an unmanned part measurement/sorting cell for a customer, this time combining two Equators, a robot, a vision system C 46 PRODUCTION MACHINING :: NOVEMBER 2013 and multiple lanes of a low-profle conveyor. In both applications, the gaging system demonstrates the value of programmable comparative inspection by quickly measuring a family of bearing races, doing it cost efectively, and without fxturing or problems from a shopfoor environment. Conroe Machine is a relatively young company, founded in 2000 with the objective of producing parts with the best manufacturing technology available. Te company grew rapidly to about 150 employees operating in a 65,000-square-foot plant. While it is a generalpurpose shop, Conroe's location near Houston results in a high percentage of business from the oil and gas industry, principally for drilling components. One of the company's continuously running jobs is the manufacture of thrust bearing races for downhole mud motors. Tese parts are produced by the thousands each week, around the clock.