Robotized machining platform

The robotized machining platform is made up of two robotic equipments: a Woodflex 5-axis machining gantry and a Kuka 6-axis anthropomorphic robot.

The Woodflex robot gantry is the result of a project involving several manufacturers (CADWORK, WOOD UNLIMITED, LIGNOCAM, L1E). This equipment allows complex machining (work on 5 axes), as well as the handling of parts thanks to its gripping unit. For example, it is possible to manage the production of a timber frame wall in a fully automatic way: positioning of uprights, stringers and chain elements, positioning of the different layers (insulation, bracing panels…), automated nailing and stapling and finally machining of openings.

The anthropomorphic robot is a Kuka heavy-duty carrier (220kg nominal load). It can be equipped with an electro-spindle or a gripping unit. Its use allows the machining of parts with complex geometries. 

At LERMAB, robotics brings together several research areas with cross-cutting themes. They concern both the material wood and the robotized production tool.

•  Innovation and development of new wood products: the use of this gantry offers new possibilities for the development of innovative products.
•  We are also working on interoperability issues, data transfer between software (CAD, CAM and robot control), data exchange issues between machines. These issues are often known as “plug and produce”.
•  The LERMAB robotics platform is also a privileged experimental tool for campus researchers. We can indeed exploit the capabilities of robotics in terms of precision, repeatability and automation for projects requiring long measurement campaigns such as data collection for dust emissions during machining or the understanding of cutting phenomena …