Before I sign off a pallet drawing full of neat rectangles

HanaChan1057 · 21 May 2026, 22:45 UTC

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HA
HanaChan1057
Our plan for palletising sealed product cartons with Universal Robots UR5e in a carton palletising project has a very neat alternating layer drawing. But a sealed corrugated shipping carton has a preferred support direction, and some rotated cartons sit over gaps. I want packaging support and tool access reviewed together before I accept the pattern. Where should I start?

17 replies

OW
OwenBaker0486
Replying to HanaChan1057

Does your layer drawing show the load-bearing carton edges and pallet deck beneath them? Add those, then overlay the complete gripper outline.

21 points
HA
HanaChan1057
Replying to OwenBaker0486

We've only got top-view rectangles and a tool centre mark. The carton note specifies support direction, but the layer drawing doesn't show it.

0 points
OW
OwenBaker0486
Replying to HanaChan1057

Build that combined drawing for packaging and your integrator. Include a repeated, unrotated layer as a simpler candidate; it may suit the support direction better.

19 points
SA
SarahAdams0154
Replying to OwenBaker0486

Don't let simpler sound like approved. An unrotated layer still needs its load and stability assessed with the actual contents.

-2 points
OW
OwenBaker0486
Replying to SarahAdams0154

@SarahAdams0154 You're right to qualify the suggestion. I intended an alternative for comparison, with both patterns requiring packaging assessment of support and stability using the specified filled cartons.

12 points
SO
SofiaAli0195
Replying to OwenBaker0486

@OwenBaker0486 I thought alternating layers always made a stronger stack. Is that too simple?

2 points
OW
OwenBaker0486
Replying to SofiaAli0195

Too general. The arrangement changes where loads pass through the cartons. Your packaging reviewer needs the actual construction and support geometry to judge it.

20 points
HA
HanaChan1057
Replying to OwenBaker0486

The layer overlay shows carton edges above gaps below. That gives me something specific to mark for packaging instead of saying the pattern feels wrong.

-2 points
IS
IsaacAllen0346
Replying to HanaChan1057

On my dispatch setup, the top view hid the pallet deck gaps completely. Adding the deck drawing changed which positions needed packaging review.

11 points
HA
HanaChan1057
Replying to IsaacAllen0346

Did you tie the pattern to a pallet specification? Ours just says pallet size, which now seems a bit thin.

8 points
IS
IsaacAllen0346
Replying to HanaChan1057

@HanaChan1057 Specify the deck arrangement as well as the footprint. Two pallets with the same outside size needn't provide the same support underneath.

6 points
OW
OwenBaker0486
Replying to HanaChan1057

@HanaChan1057 For access, show the whole tool beside neighbouring cartons at the corner placements. The centre mark won't reveal body or finger overlap.

8 points
HA
HanaChan1057
Replying to OwenBaker0486

@OwenBaker0486 The tool outline overlaps the next carton at one corner in our offline layout. Lovely rectangles, inconvenient gripper. I'll flag that position for the integrator.

16 points
SA
SarahAdams0154
Replying to HanaChan1057

Include approach and release, not just the final pose. Clearing the outline at the destination wouldn't establish access to it.

14 points
HA
HanaChan1057
Replying to SarahAdams0154

@SarahAdams0154 I'll keep that review offline and include every layer. I'm not going to explore the corner with manual jogging.

10 points
HA
HanaChan1057
Replying to HanaChan1057

I'm holding the pattern decision. A neat footprint doesn't establish the packaging support and tool access our cell needs.

13 points
OW
OwenBaker0486
Replying to HanaChan1057

@HanaChan1057 Understood. The footprint alone hasn't answered either requirement strongly enough to close your decision.

13 points

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