SMART Machine Technology

Lean manufacturing, Simplification of Design, Reliability and Maintainability, Reduced Equipment Costs, and Improved Uptime and Throughput are all of the concepts which dictates how corporations do business today.

In response to requests from our customers, we have designed an approach to machine design and build that fits these needs. As the result of thousands of hours committed by our Standardization and Modularization Action Resource Team (SMART), we have developed the Smart Machine Technology approach that encompasses our Distributed Device Architecture. Some examples of which include the following summaries:

Through product standardization and modularity, Automatic Feed Company has been able to dramatically reduce the design complexity and controls architecture of our coil handling and press feeding equipment. This boosts both efficiency and reliability while significantly reducing costs. Our SMART™ machine systems, including cut-to-length and blanking lines, are designed to fit virtually any OEM requirement. Yet, they function with the ease of a plug-and-play application.

It is all part of our SMART (Standardization & Modularization Resource Team) initiative. SMART systems are segmented into standard, stand-alone sub-systems in which choosing motors, cylinders, valve or other machine components is reduced to interchangeable commodities. This helps you specify components at a lower cost and with minimal impact on the overall process.

Recipe Wizard Software Simplifies Coil Programming

Automatic Feed’s Recipe Wizard modular software and control architecture simplifies line setup and recovery, reducing the time required to input new part program recipes into our coil handling and press feeding equipment.

Part of our OneButton process -- a component of our SMART (Standardization & Modularization Resource Team) initiative – the Recipe Wizard allows us to easily adapt to customer requests for different machine-mounted controls. The base program for each SMART machine always remains the same. Only the subroutines require changing, eliminating the need to rewrite code. No more added “debug” time for software additions. And, new machine programs can be added quickly as new equipment or processes are added.

With OneButton, we can also test control modules, machine functions, safety interlocks and production cycle simulation on a per module basis – before assembling. Which is your assurance that they will function properly without the need to debug in the field. This means shorter lead times and improved time to market.

Distributed Device Architecture (DDA)

Simplicity with smarts. Our Distributed Device Architecture (DDA) process removes control devices from traditional enclosures and distributes them throughout your coil processing equipment. The result? A significant reduction in material and labor costs. And, improved reliability through reduction of potential failure points.

The DDA control configuration locates industrial controls and hardware devices onto Automatic Feed’s DDA stand alongside the machine. All the units are standardized control neutral sub-systems – based on our Device Neutral™ architecture – so DDA stands function as modular plug and play devices.

DDA is part of our SMART (Standardization & Modularization Resource Team) initiative. SMART systems are segmented into standard, stand-alone sub-systems in which choosing motors, cylinders, valve or other machine components is reduced to interchangeable commodities. This helps you specify components at a lower cost and with minimal impact on the overall process.