I don't know about others, but the diagram/picture is too small to read on my display (19").

A lot of things can be automated that are now done manually, and they usually stay that way until an in-house, ambitious engineer/clever-other decides to automate it. Hiring outside consultants to assess the process may cost so much that the savings one would hope to make from the automation stretches out the pay-back period for years, and if the plan they propose isn't feasible, it's money down the tube.

I agree better diagrams are needed.

I tried to print it exploded and still could not read it.

If you post something clearer or larger I (we) would like to throw out ideas.

One other thing we will need to know is how many different widget types will be handled and if all the pick up and set down configurations are the same. Are the "targets" at pick up and set down moving. These basic facts will help establish if the system can be done with "hard" automation or something with more degrees of freedom and programmability like an industrial robot. It will also help establish the end effector configuration.

Also what is the average thru put and what does the system need to intermittently sprint to?

Will the end user be able to maintain an industrial robot or at least a PLC controlled manipulator?

save you drawing as ".JPG" so it can be enlagered as needed then repost it

Unfortunately: the only way on CR4 is to give us each bit separately:-

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etc.

Well my fellow CR4ers (wow all you guys are Gurus) its a little frustrating that constrictor1 never got back to us with requested information.

hi constrictor,

put your drawing online (with a bigger resolution), somewhere, and put up the hyperlink so we can download it. most of us have bad eyes already.

nevertheless, it appears the scope of the automation is not very large. you might want to try looking at what the following can offer:

• Millennium Automation,
• Automation, and, of course,
• GlobalSpec!