Keep your spindles turning through breaks, shift changes and unmanned hours. We design, build, programme and commission robot cells that load and unload your CNC lathes and machining centres, with part presentation, machine integration and quality checks all handled by one team.
Most CNC machines spend a surprising amount of their day waiting for someone to open the door. A well designed tending cell takes that job off your operators so they can look after quality, setups and the work that really needs a person, while the machine keeps cutting.
Every cell is built around the machine it serves, so the starting point is always your machine, your parts and the way you run them.
Loading billets or blanks into the chuck and taking finished parts out, including twin-spindle and sub-spindle machines where the part is handed over inside the machine.
Vertical and horizontal machining centres, with the robot loading vices, fixtures or zero-point pallets so you can run longer without someone standing at the door.
Where cycle times allow, one robot can look after two machines, or a lathe and a mill in sequence, so you get more out of a single cell.
The same approach works for grinding, pressing, washing, marking and other processes that need parts loaded and unloaded on a steady rhythm.
There is no single right answer. We look at your parts, cycle time and floor space and recommend what suits the job, not what is easiest for us to sell.
A good fit for lighter parts and moderate cycle times, particularly where floor space is tight or operators need to work close to the cell. Cobots can often run with lighter guarding and are easier to move between machines, but they are slower and the application still needs a proper risk assessment.
The better choice for heavier parts, fast cycle times or long unattended runs. They need full guarding, but they are quicker, carry more and tend to give a faster return when the machine is running flat out.
We work across ABB, FANUC, KUKA, Yaskawa and other platforms, and are happy to use the brand you already have spares and skills for.
How parts arrive and leave decides how long the cell can run on its own. We design part presentation around your batch sizes and how often you want someone to visit the cell.
Stacked drawers or grid trays that the operator loads in one go, giving hours of run time from a single refill.
Pre-loaded trolleys that dock into the cell in a repeatable position, so a full batch can be swapped in seconds and loaded away from the machine.
Infeed and outfeed conveyors for higher volumes, or where finished parts need to move straight on to the next process.
Cameras that locate parts that are not precisely placed, which removes the need for a dedicated fixture for every part number.
This is where tending cells usually succeed or struggle, and it is where our controls background matters most.
Fitting or interfacing with auto door systems so the robot can open and close the machine safely without an operator.
Chuck, collet, vice and fixture open and close signals, part present checks and air blast, so the robot knows the part is clamped before the cycle starts.
A clear handshake between the machine and the cell for cycle start, cycle complete and alarms and, where needed, program selection for different part numbers.
Guarding, interlocks and safety PLC logic tied into the machine's own safety circuit, validated and documented before handover.
We work with the common CNC controls, including FANUC, Siemens and Heidenhain. Some machines need an automation interface option from the machine builder, so we check what your controller supports at the start rather than finding out on site.
Running unattended only works if you can trust what comes out, so we build the checks into the cell.
Air blow-off stations that clear swarf and coolant from parts and grippers before parts are placed or inspected.
Camera checks for part orientation, feature presence and visual defects, an area where we have a lot of experience across other sectors.
In-process gauging, or an SPC drawer where the robot presents a sample part for the operator to check at set intervals.
Suspect parts go to a separate reject lane or drawer so they never get mixed in with good parts.
You deal with one team from the first conversation to handover. Each cell includes:
Cell base, guarding, robot mounting, part presentation and fixtures, designed in 3D around your machine and floor space.
A robot sized for your parts and cycle time, with grippers designed around your parts, including double grippers so the robot can swap a finished part for a new one in a single visit.
PLC control, robot programs and a simple operator interface for loading, changeovers and recovery after a stop.
Risk assessment, safety system design and validation so the cell is ready to put into service.
The cell is proven in simulation before it is built, tested at factory acceptance and then installed and commissioned on your machine.
Operator and maintenance training, full documentation and support after handover.
A few details are usually enough for a first conversation and a sensible budget figure. Send us as much of the following as you have.
Useful to have to hand: the machine make, model and controller, part drawings or photos with sizes and weights, your current cycle time and batch sizes, how often you change over, the floor space around the machine, and how long you would like the cell to run without an operator. If you are not sure about any of it, that is fine, as we can work it out with you on a call or a site visit.
The questions we are asked most often when manufacturers first look at automating a machine.
Yes, most tending cells are added to existing machines. The main thing we check early on is whether the controller and door can be interfaced, as some machines need an automation option from the machine builder.
It can, as long as changeovers are quick. Adjustable grippers, quick-change fingers and stored programs for each part number all help, and we will tell you honestly if your batch sizes make it hard to justify.
Often, yes, when the machining cycle is long compared with the time it takes to load and unload. We check this in simulation before committing to a layout.
The biggest driver is how many extra spindle hours you gain through breaks, shift changes and unmanned running. We can help you put realistic numbers together as part of the scoping work.
It can be designed that way. A cobot on a mobile base with a docking point at each machine can be moved between machines that have been set up for it, while larger guarded cells are normally fixed to one machine or group.
We plan installs around your production, including nights and weekends where needed, and prove the cell in simulation first so the time we need on your machine is kept to a minimum.
Robot and PLC programming is where Duke started, so the machine interface, handshake and recovery logic get the attention they need.
Reach, cycle time and layout are proven in simulation before anything is built, so there are fewer surprises when the cell meets your machine.
We have integrated complex vision systems across a range of sectors and bring that to part location and inspection.
Design, build, programming and commissioning are handled by one team, so nobody is left chasing between suppliers.
ABB, FANUC, KUKA, Yaskawa and more. We recommend the robot and equipment that suit your parts and your existing spares and skills.
Start with one machine and extend to more, or to a larger bespoke system, without changing supplier. Larger systems →
Tell us about your machine and parts and we will come back with a sensible scope and what it will take to deliver. No obligation.