How Adaptive Z-Tracking Eliminated Nozzle Crashes and Saved $270K Annually
In automated adhesive dispensing, even small variations in part position can create major production problems. For one automotive OEM body shop, slight differences between the actual part location and its CAD model caused the dispensing robot’s nozzle to repeatedly contact the vehicle panel. The result was damaged nozzles, unexpected downtime and ongoing maintenance costs.
The solution was implementing Coherix 3D Z-Tracking, which continuously measures the actual part position and automatically adjusts the robot’s dispensing path in real time.
With adaptive Z-Tracking, the system:
- Measures the Z-offset of every part during dispense
- Automatically adjusts the nozzle path in-process to compensate for part variation
- Maintains a consistent nozzle-to-part distance throughout the dispensing process
- Prevents nozzle crashes without slowing production
By eliminating collisions, the manufacturer significantly reduced equipment damage and production interruptions, resulting in approximately $270,000 in annual savings while improving process reliability and uptime.
Manufacturing environments are rarely perfect. Parts move, fixtures wear and dimensional variation is inevitable.
Adaptive process control technologies like Coherix 3D Z-Tracking help manufacturers compensate for these real-world conditions automatically, ensuring consistent adhesive application and keeping production running smoothly with unmatched quality.
To learn more about how Coherix solved this challenge, read the complete case study here.
Learn more about Coherix 3D Z-Tracking for joining applications