Machines | BP Automation

Machine Retrofitting Pros and Cons

When it comes to what you should do with your machine when it is getting worn or has a breakdown one of the options is machine retrofitting. Retrofitting is the process of replacing the CNC, servo, and spindle systems on a mechanically sound machine in order to increase its life span. Machine retrofits are a great way to improve your existing machine without the large investment of a new machine.

Cost Effective

Machine tools are some of the most costly pieces of equipment on the shop floor. When machinery starts to show wear and tear or break down a machine retrofit is much more cost-effective than buying an entirely new machine. It can be as low as a third of the price of a new machine. You will also save on possible foundations for the new machine, transportation or rigging as well as training personnel.

Machine Down Time

Unlike a machine replacement a retrofit does require downtime of your machine. Ideally, it is best to do this during scheduled maintenance or shutdowns to increase cost-effectiveness and avoid production loss. A proactive retrofit can be much more cost-effective and shorter than a retrofit that will occur after a machine breakdown.

Replacement Parts

As a machine nears the end of its life cycle, replacing parts can be costly or difficult to find. Before starting the retrofit process we recommend quoting the price of any parts and their current stock or time they will be in transportation. A company that specializes in machine design and retrofit can help you to discuss these options and whether a retrofit is the best option or possible with your current machinery.

Overall machine retrofitting is a great way to increase the life span of a machine and increase the energy savings, performance, and improved access to manufacturing data. It is also a great way to add new safety and safeguarding measures to your machines and procedures. For more information regarding our machine retrofitting services contact BP Automation today.

Machine Hazard Assessment

Machine Hazard Assessment or Machine Risk Assessment is a component of a safe workplace. Not only should the design and the function of the machine be known, but the risks also need to be identified. Hazard around machines could include moving parts, radiation, electricity, noise, gas or liquid pressure.

machine hazard assessment

1) Identify Hazards – What type of hazards could occur, especially when it comes to the limitations of the machine.

2) Identify who will be hurt and how. Will this affect the operator or those around the machine as well and how could it possibly hurt those individuals. Examples include physical contact of the machine, chemical hazards, etc.

3) Identify risks and precautions. Employers do have a legal duty to records risks and hazard levels of machinery and record them via writing, training, etc.

4) Record all information and start implementation plan of all controls.

5) Review and check for necessary updates. Reassess accordingly to implementation plan.

For more information on Machine Hazard Assessment contact us at BP Automation in Edmonton, AB. We specialize in safeguarding and other risk assessments for machinery and entire workplace standards.

Read More – What is Machine Safeguarding

What Is Machine Safeguarding?

In any industrial shop or application when machinery is involved, machine safeguarding is critical to preventing unnecessary injuries or fatalities when being used. A thorough machine safeguard assessment is your first line of defense against injuries and accidents.

A proper safeguarding system eliminates the following:

The chance that objects will fall near the operator or the machine itself

That the safeguard will create a new hazard. For example, if it creates an object that is sharp or jagged or causes other types of harm to the operator it completely defeats the purpose of the safeguard in the first place.

Interference- The operator or worker should be able to complete the job easily or comfortably without any interference.

Where Injuries Can Occur:

Point of Operation – This includes when the material is being worked on such as cutting, shaping, boring and

Motions – Where the machine is in motion, including rotating, transversing and reciprocating. Rotating motions can be especially dangerous as they continue to move continuously after grabbing a limb or piece of clothing. Examples of rotating mechanisms include collars, couplings, cams, clutches, flywheels, shaft ends, spindles and meshing gears.

Power Transmission Apparatus – This includes the areas of the machine that are transmitting power for the machine to work. This could include chains, pulleys, gears, and cranks.

Training

Even with the highest standards of machine safeguarding, without the proper knowledge or training it cannot prevent against accidents completely. Proper safeguards should include instructions on how to use, the possible risks associated, as well as what to do if the safeguards are damaged

There are many non-mechanical hazards that can affect the safety and productivity of your operations. This could be electrical sources such as power outlets, chemical concerns, and noise levels. Here at BP Automation, we work to eliminate all hazards with machine safeguarding or plant assessment services. Having a machine safeguarding assessment or plant safeguarding done will protect your employees and improve productivity, as well as the morale and viability of the company.

For more information on Machine Safeguarding contact BP Automation today.

Milling Gear Cutter Project

Gear cutting is any machining process for cutting a gear. The most common gear-cutting processes include hobbing, broaching, milling, and grinding. In the gear cutting process the cutter is formed according to the shape of the tooth. In the milling process a milling machine and a form cutter are used, which is passed through the gear blank to form the tooth gap. One main advantage of gear milling is that it can produce almost any type of gear.

Watch the gear cutting video from BP Automation here:

BP Automation designs and manufactures state-of-the-art automated metal fabrication tools to cater the individual needs of the steel fabrication industry. Contact us today to learn more.

Robotics in the Dairy Industry

Automated farming continues to take large steps in growth. Dairy farming is no different. This industry is extremly important for the economy and overall population, however to sustain a dairy farm most farmers spend hours per day milking cattle day in and day out.

As automation takes the hand in the dairy industry, farmers can lay their hands and buckets to rest and run sections of their farms on autopilot. Over the past few years it has increased by large strides taking over conventional methods.

When it comes to this industry robotic or automatic milking machines help to increase production and flexibility for dairy farmers. These automated milking machines allow for the cows to milked at anytime without an individual present. In most cases detailed data can be recorded provding dairy farmers. Traditionally with automatic milking systems farmers would have to connect the machines to the cow themselves. With a custom robotic system a person does not need to be physically present.

Robotic milking systems can provide the following:

-Cleaning -Attachment -Milking -Disinfection -Attending to alarms -Monitoring performance of cows

Robotic milking also increases health for cows as enzymes in the milk are easily detected. With early signs of illness that can be detected from the smart machines, cattle can be treated sooner and decrease risk of further illness being spread througout.

Free Cow Traffic is just one method that can occur during robotic milking. Cattle do not necessarily need to be consistently gated for robotic milking to occur. It allows the cattle to roam free and move from the feed fence, water troughs and to the robot and cubicles without being restricted from fencing or selection gates. It has been known to yield higher milk production and reduced risk of mastitis one of the most common illnesses of dairy cattle. Not only does this method yeield highter rates of production and less illness it requires less requirements from the farmer to invest in further gates.

For more information about robotic processes contact us today.

Food Processing Automation From BP Automation

Automating food processing brings drastic improvements in food quality and manufacturing process. It enables you to achieve efficient workflow, labor use, and allocation of resources. Automation in the food production industry also increase precision and consistency. One of the other major benefits from using robotic engineering is the reduction of contamination sources and hazards that can occur with manual labour.

Food processing has known to be a challenge for many businesses due to the difference in sizes when it comes to mass producing vairous food types. In recent years, a combination of robotics and systems have proven the automation processing of most food products. When robotics were first introduced into food processing it mainly concentrated on end of the line, however as demand increased up of the line production required further automation. Not only does demand continue to increase, systems are much more intelligent and makes this type of automation much more feasable to complete repetitive and precise tasks.

The tasks that have mainly been performed in food prodcution industry include: packaging, repackaging, palletizing, picking and production. Some of the newer applications include: raw food handling, meat processing, ready meal production, grading of fruits and vegetable and meat processing. Automated meat processing especially reduces the need for butchery and high risks associated with this process. The system also allows for tasks that would not be possible through human operation such as high force cutting and precision.

Here is a food processing machine that was designed and manufactured at BP Automation

We are ready to design and manufacture automation solutions in form of agile machines capable of revolutionizing your food processing facility. Automation will allow you to automate inspection on food products, evaluate food quality on a consistent basis, and reduce downtime and waste during food handling. To learn more about custom machining.

Countertop Cutting Machines | Custom Machinery and Equipment

Deciding to develop a a custom tool or custom piece of equipment can be a heavy decision. The investment into certain types of equipment will scale your industrial business and increase production. The design and manufacturing of a custom tool or piece of equipment can improve efficiency, functionality, cost and marketibility of products.

There are many types of industries that we provide custom types of equipment development to here at BP Automation. For example, cutting machines that help businesses produce product for their customers or wholesalers right on site helps them turn more revenue around each day. Here is a Corian Countertop Cutting Machine that was manufactured here at BP Automation for one of our clients:

To learn more about custom countertop cutting machines or other custome industrial equipment in Edmonton, AB contact us BP Automation. We work all types of challenging and customized projects across all industries.

Category: Machines