Le robot
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RENAULT Vehicles Industrials is now operating what is believed to be the world's first fully-automated flexible production cell controlled by real time computer.
It is at RVI's heavy commercial vehicle gearbox plant at Boutheon, near St Etienne, and is used for machining castings for the new B9 gearbox (CM June 5).
The new production unit is housed in a new 3,000sqm (32,000sqft) extention and is claimed by Renault to reconcile productivity with flexibility for low and medium volumes.
It comprises seven numerically-controlled machine tools with automatic change-over of workpiece (four machinery centres, two modular machines with multiple interchangeable tools, and a reaming and facing machine).
There are eight robot carriers which transport the casings around the production cell (see picture).
The whole operation is controlled by a real time computer that can make instantaneous adjustments to the work programme to take into account unscheduled machine downtime.