Fori Automation Blog

Automotive Assembly--Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) for Chassis Marriage


Fori recently designed and built a chassis marriage AGV utilizing induction power and magnetic guidance. 

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Features:

  • Guidance Technology: Magnetic bar
  • Capacity: 6,000 lbs./2,727 kg.
  • Safety: Safety scanners, safety bumpers, Rockwell safety PLC
  • Controls: Rockwell open architecture, vehicle management system (VMS)
  • Keys to Success: Vehicle synchronization, custom designed chassis, high capacity lifts
  • Results: Improved flexibility, decreased infrastructure, elimination of batteries and chargers
Chassis marriage has traditionally been completed with a Rail Guided Vehicle (RGV) and in floor track. The system has been a longstanding robust and reliable solution; however some customers require additional flexibility to support their process. The chassis marriage AGV looks to improve on the RGV technique by utilizing induction power. Using induction provides a limitless power source and magnetic guidance which is a proven guidance technique for AGVs providing a high level of reliability and accuracy. One of the main design considerations for the chassis marriage AGV development was flexibility and infrastructure reduction. Utilization of an in floor induction wire and magnetic bar will decrease the cost and time associated with the installation of Chassis Marriage systems. The ease of layout changes supports the added flexibility requested by the end users of these systems.
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In floor induction wire.
A Vehicle Management System (VMS) is supplied with the vehicles to manage communication with the overhead conveyor, synchronization of vehicles and system diagnostics required by the end user. This inductive chassis marriage AGV can be designed to use the proven and reliable patented Fori electric chain lift or other suitable lift devices. 1 For more information about Fori's AGVs or Chassis Marriage systems, please visit our website.

Tuggers - Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) for Product Delivery


Fori has further improved on its standard Tugger AGV design by doubling the overall towing capacity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdX5-JNfPsw

Features:

  • Guidance Technology: Inertial with pencil magnets, bi-directional, capable of 0 degree turn
  • Capacity: 35,000 lbs./15,909 kg.
  • Safety: Scanners and bumpers
  • Controls: Siemens Open Architecture
  • Keys to Success: Highly accurate and repeatable
  • Results: Increased production rate, reduced personnel injuries, decreased infrastructure
1 Fori was enlisted to supply a derivative of the standard Tugger AGV product line that is capable of nearly double the capacity of the original design. The driver of this increase was the goal of being able to transport three carts carrying axle assemblies for a large automotive OEM. Due to the capacity, more product was transferred during each move which further increased the return on investment while decreasing the total number of required vehicles. The Tugger AGVs were commissioned to replace non-value added material handling tasks within the assembly process. The most important process consideration was safety and reliable delivery of product. 2 Integration of a Fori Vehicle Management System (VMS) introduced further improvements to safety and reliability. Vehicle scheduling of moves, tracking and traffic control is coordinated through the Fori VMS. The Fori Tugger is a proven and robust product that can be applied to a variety of material handling applications. For more information about Fori's Tuggers and other material handling systems, please visit our website.