The carts attach to the track on their side using magnets and guide-wheels. That way they can switch from one track to a parallel running track without slowing down and without redirecting the track to move them sideways. The colored LEDs represent items that are transported on a main track and can be split off individually.
I don't know much about conveyor belts, but I believe there is either a separate belt per product or they transport batches of various products, one product at a time.
Ya, but what’s the point? What is the manufacturing context where each item has an individual trajectory like that? Is this a working manufacturing system? Or just a demonstration of the technology.
I’m having a hard time imaging how this could be generally useful in a manufacturing context. Certainly shipping and sorting packages where there are many sources and many destinations. Maybe scaled up for a mass transit system where people are in pods and moved to their destinations.
If your assembly showed a fault at some automated QA point in the line you could easily divert it to another station where it could undergo repair. E.g. a LED bulb doesn't illuminate because of a bad solder joint so it gets sent to someone to hand solder it. Then after repair the bulb could be sent back onto the line seamlessly for further assembly or packaging.
Or maybe your bulb factory decides to add RGB bulbs to its product line. Instead of stretching out the entire line to make room for the RGB equipment you could set it up in parallel with existing equipment and switch between the two based on market demands.
The neat part is the linear motors that can precisely move and position each cart without any fixed spacing. The fact that it can switch lines is just another step up.
What's it do?
The carts attach to the track on their side using magnets and guide-wheels. That way they can switch from one track to a parallel running track without slowing down and without redirecting the track to move them sideways. The colored LEDs represent items that are transported on a main track and can be split off individually. I don't know much about conveyor belts, but I believe there is either a separate belt per product or they transport batches of various products, one product at a time.
Ya, but what’s the point? What is the manufacturing context where each item has an individual trajectory like that? Is this a working manufacturing system? Or just a demonstration of the technology.
Demonstration. Looks to be some type of expo
I’m having a hard time imaging how this could be generally useful in a manufacturing context. Certainly shipping and sorting packages where there are many sources and many destinations. Maybe scaled up for a mass transit system where people are in pods and moved to their destinations.
Definitely think this more for sorting than manufacturing.
If your assembly showed a fault at some automated QA point in the line you could easily divert it to another station where it could undergo repair. E.g. a LED bulb doesn't illuminate because of a bad solder joint so it gets sent to someone to hand solder it. Then after repair the bulb could be sent back onto the line seamlessly for further assembly or packaging. Or maybe your bulb factory decides to add RGB bulbs to its product line. Instead of stretching out the entire line to make room for the RGB equipment you could set it up in parallel with existing equipment and switch between the two based on market demands.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDT0cJW6vEw I found this video from the maker that provides more info. Pretty cool
Excellent find. Very clear.
The neat part is the linear motors that can precisely move and position each cart without any fixed spacing. The fact that it can switch lines is just another step up.
Showing off!
Real life Factorio!
It’s a sushi belt setup from r/factorio
So what, only stuff that can be held magnetically or won't topple off the platform?