I proposed UR5e fixture unloading for an initial batch of 117 small plastic enclosures. Arm and gripper prices are known. Fixtures and staff time are vague, and my colleague is rightly annoyed. What small pilot could we both judge before I ask for a hardware commitment?
Start with a capped fixture estimate and a timed account of the current job. Define the same incoming and finished states for both options, including setup, changeover, recovery assistance and clearing away. The pilot should answer a decision, not just show the robot moves an enclosure.
Mine and the toolroom's, mainly. I treated preparation as something we would sort out. I have asked my colleague to agree the time allowance and comparison outcome before any new purchase request.
Include a realistic interruption in the proposed pilot scope, under the approved procedure. Or more precisely, include the support needed to recover; an easy restart with you coaching every step would understate the labour.
We have agreed to cost the fixture concept and time the current enclosure job first. No pilot run yet. A hardware purchase only comes back for discussion after those two inputs are available.