At Sennheiser Production U.S.A. in Albuquerque, accuracy is non-negotiable.
Each week, the center constructs 30,000 published motherboard (PCBs) that power 1,500 specialist sound gadgets for the Americas and Asia. With 115 various PCB variations going through manufacturing, automation is necessary to keep throughput and high quality.
However one crucial action stayed hand-operated: 100% PCB screening
As manufacturing boosted, evaluating ended up being a traffic jam.
Right Here’s just how Sennheiser eliminated that traffic jam and boosted the variety of PCBs evaluated by 33% in one year
Outcomes at a look

- 33% rise in PCBs evaluated within one year
- 115 PCB variations managed with one flexible gripper
- 100% PCB examination insurance coverage preserved
- Real-time cobot KPI tracking carried out
- 2nd cobot warranted utilizing manufacturing information
Maintain checking out for the complete tale …
The obstacle: hand-operated PCB screening ended up being a traffic jam
” At Sennheiser, we evaluate every little thing 100%,” discusses Production Supervisor Steven Nery.
The procedure was basic however repeated:
- A driver puts a PCB right into the tester
- Shuts the component
- Awaits the examination cycle
- Eliminates the board
- Tons the following one
Repeat for 8 hours.
With 115 PCB kinds and climbing manufacturing need, hand-operated taking care of restricted scalability. The group required an option that might:
- Manage regular component transitions
- Adjust to various PCB dimensions and kind variables
- Maintain regular high quality
- Incorporate promptly without interfering with manufacturing
The option: versatile clutching and joint automation

Examination Designer Roger Situation started discovering automation alternatives. The development included Robotiq’s 2F-85 Adaptive Gripper
” Robotiq had an one-of-a-kind option: a trustworthy gripper that can handle component transitions promptly, which was very important for our high-mix, high-volume manufacturing. And also, its vast stroke fit the kind variable of the PCBs we were checking out.”
Within weeks, the group released a Global Robotics UR5 cobot geared up with the 2F-85.
The automated operations:
- The robotic gets a PCB with the gripper
- Relocate to a scanner to verify component ID
- Tons it right into the tester
- The tester signals begin
- After screening, the system sends out a pass/fail message
- The robotic types the PCB right into the proper container
The outcome was a repeatable, regular screening cycle– without hand-operated treatment.
Determining efficiency with Robotiq Insights
Initially, Sennheiser treated their cobot like a brand-new employee. They also called it ART (Automated Robot Employee)
However efficiency required to be quantifiable.
” Considering that we constantly assess just how brand-new workers are executing, I informed our supervisors we must do the exact same for ART,” claims Situation.
To track KPIs, the group attached the robotic to Robotiq Insights, an online tracking application.
Insights promptly ended up being a production line control device made use of by several teams:
- Supervisors make use of control panels to picture manufacturing efficiency
- Engineers obtain everyday records and quit notifies
- Operators obtain alerts when trays require refilling
” I make use of Insights to connect details to non-engineering individuals, since I can simply indicate the control panel and clarify what’s taking place,” claims Nery.
When the robotic quits, the group understands quickly– and can respond promptly. That exposure changed automation from a black box right into a manageable, optimizable procedure.
33% even more PCBs evaluated with greater uniformity
After one year, the numbers were clear.
” With ART1, we saw a boost of around 33% in the variety of PCBs evaluated over a year,” claims Situation. “And the high quality was greater since the handling was much more regular.”
The manufacturing information gathered with Insights aided warrant the acquisition of a 2nd cobot.
Today, ART2 (a UR5e) runs along with ART1, and the manufacturing facility is intending to dual PCB screening ability.
The initial implementation eliminated a traffic jam. The 2nd scaled a tried and tested system.
A brand-new function on the production line
Automation really did not remove work; it boosted them.
Marcella Segovia formerly did the repeated hand-operated screening procedure. Today, she runs the robotic screening procedure.
She:
- Prepares trays
- Focuses on task orders
- Modifications robotic programs for various PCB kinds
- Checks manufacturing
Insights sends her a sms message when trays are vacant so she understands when to refill.
” I was a little terrified of the robotics in the beginning, however I truly intended to discover just how to run them,” she claims. “They’re quickly, however I can maintain– and it’s excellent just how much we have actually boosted our numbers.”
Recurring hand-operated screening ended up being a higher-value technological function at the facility of manufacturing.
The larger photo: scaling with information, not presumptions
Sennheiser really did not automate every little thing at the same time.
They:
- Determined a clear traffic jam
- Released an adaptable cobot cell
- Calculated efficiency
- Utilized actual manufacturing information to warrant scaling
That’s Lean Robotics at work.
By incorporating a versatile adaptive gripper, a joint robotic, and real-time efficiency tracking, Sennheiser transformed screening right into an affordable benefit– and constructed a clear course for future development.
If PCB screening is restricting your throughput, the chance might not remain in including labor– however in getting rid of the traffic jam with versatile automation and quantifiable efficiency.
Beginning with one traffic jam. Range with information.
See just how you might automate with Robotiq Adaptive Grippers in your center. Talk with a Robotiq expert today.
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发布者:Linnea Bruce,转转请注明出处:https://robotalks.cn/how-sennheiser-increased-pcb-testing-by-33-with-a-robotiq-2f-85-gripper/