b'Methods Machine Tools Inc. targets standard automation packages for its work cells.By Alan Richter Spencer said the main differ-ence between the two types of W hether a high-mix, low-vol- aforementioned customers is that ume parts manufacturer isthose that have robots and hori-new to automation or looking tozontal pallet pool machine tools, further the use of automation at itsfor example, understand the pro-shop by implementing cellular ma- ductivity-boosting benefits that chining, standard automation pack- automated work cells provide, so ages are cost-effective and increasethat group doesnt need to be throughput, said Zachary S. Spen- convinced.cer, automation manager of robot- Those that are new to automa-ics for Methods Machine Tools Inc.tion, however, need persuasion.in Sudbury, Massachusetts. Theyre not used to setting up Anything we can quickly de- a machine and walking away from ploy and integrate to get machineit, Spencer said. Everybody is al-shops churning out parts faster,ways a little bit afraid of hitting that that is our goal, he said. green go button for the first time. The rotary storage carousel on the Plus-K automation system can be filled with the number of workpiece carriers and extra tools required for the different workpieces to be machined, enabling end users to let the cell run.Methods Machine Tools34SEPTEMBER 2021Workcells.indd 34 8/17/21 3:22 PM'