Uploaded February 2019 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In 2017, appliance industry leader Sub-Zero, Wolf & Cove called upon the Madison College students in the AMST program to develop and proof an automated system for the assembly of Sub-Zero refrigerator components. Students needed to integrate a variety of manual and machine processes into a single work cell that would ultimately produce the unit's base tray sub-assembly. The sub-assembly consists of several different components such as compressors, a condenser, the base tray itself, and two different types of fasteners. The students' challenge would be to develop an automated process capable of not only handling the various materials, but also securing them to the tray.
As is the case with many academic ventures, funding for the project was limited, and the team was encouraged to utilize existing equipment wherever possible. Fortunately, this included a six-axis FANUC robot, a YAMAHA 3-axis Linear Gantry system, and a 5x10’ work cell within which the students would design their proof-of-concept system. Almost immediately, the students realized they would require different tools to handle the various components in the process. Implementing tool changers would enable this and overcome space constraints to better optimize the payload of the robot.
In 2017, appliance industry leader Sub-Zero, Wolf & Cove called upon the Madison College students in the AMST program to develop and proof an automated system for the assembly of Sub-Zero refrigerator components. Students needed to integrate a variety of manual and machine processes into a single work cell that would ultimately produce the unit's base tray sub-assembly. The sub-assembly consists of several different components such as compressors, a condenser, the base tray itself, and two different types of fasteners. The students' challenge would be to develop an automated process capable of not only handling the various materials, but also securing them to the tray.
As is the case with many academic ventures, funding for the project was limited, and the team was encouraged to utilize existing equipment wherever possible. Fortunately, this included a six-axis FANUC robot, a YAMAHA 3-axis Linear Gantry system, and a 5x10’ work cell within which the students would design their proof-of-concept system. Almost immediately, the students realized they would require different tools to handle the various components in the process. Implementing tool changers would enable this and overcome space constraints to better optimize the payload of the robot.
