'Open gantry' concept applied to a CNC milling/routing system features inverted robots mounted on a gantry frame to provide optimum reach for trim applications in a variety of materials.

KMT Cutting Systems AB has launched the new Open Gantry Concept (OGC), a totally new design for robotic systems for trimming parts made from polyurethane foam, moulded fibres, sandwich materials and composites such as the carpets, headliners, bootliners, insulation mats and dashboards used in cars and other vehicles. The OGC is an open system featuring inverted robots mounted on a gantry frame to provide optimum reach for trim applications. It has a modular design that offers flexibility by readily incorporating changes and upgrades in the future.

Among the modules available is a choice of different robot brands including ABB Robotics and Motoman and touch screen control systems from Siemens and Allen Bradley.

With a maximum of four robots, the OGC system can be supplied in different versions with single and double gantry configurations.

The OGC system can be used both as a stand-alone station or as part of a continuous production process with loading on one side of the machine and unloading on the other.

The system is compact and can be transported in a 40 ft ISO container.

Installation on site takes less than a week.

There is also a choice of safety systems for the OGC including a front rolling door and light barriers to establish a safety zone in front of the gantry system and worktable.

The rear side of the machine can be closed to prevent entry.

This option is suitable when the machine is used in the stand-alone mode.

A rolling door and light barriers are also available as options for the rear of the system.

Other options include a vacuum unit, a barcode system and a pallet lifter.

The OGC joins the widest range of waterjet cutting and routing systems and options available on the market, ensuring customers have the most precise cutting solution for their products with regard to the required capacity, the production environment, operating costs, flexibility, safety and ergonomics, as well as compatibility with any other existing systems.

The evaluation provided by KMT Cutting Systems begins in the very early stages of projects, to ensure that the most optimum trimming solution is delivered well in time for pre-production and production needs.

Complementing the waterjet and routing systems manufactured by KMT, the company offers a wide range of services such as virtual simulation, robot program audits and offline programming, to analyse processes with regard to system design, comfort of utilisation and, of course, productivity and cost efficiency.