I'm back with another pallet layout, this one for an FR5 job. The outer carton size looks ordinary, but packing has marked two edges that need support. Rotate the next layer and those edges cross the gaps the gripper needs.
I'm looking at the open-tool drawing this time, having been caught by that before. What I can't settle is which bits of the carton base can bridge a gap and which can't. I reckon packaging and tooling need to sit down over one drawing before we buy anything. Has anyone found a useful way to show that conflict?
I've done the overlay. One marked edge has support at both ends but nothing through the middle. I don't know whether that span is acceptable for our packed case.
Does the support note come from the carton maker or your pack designer? I'd want the person who knows the contents involved. The outer box supplier may not know where an internal tray puts the weight.
Show the tool at the awkward placement as well. A finished layer can hide which neighbouring cases are already there when the fingers open, so a placement order beside the drawing will help the tool person.
Packing designer wrote the note. Integrator has a placement order, which I'm adding to the review. They had only sent me the finished-layer picture originally.
Purchasing was waiting for my reply. I've said the technical review isn't finished, so they're holding the tool order. Nobody's drilled or bought anything against this version.
They want filled samples with our internal tray and the actual lower layer. We have empty display cartons handy, but I've asked for production packing instead.
Who pays for that trial is worth settling now, especially if the tool supplier needs to attend. Otherwise everybody can agree it's essential and somehow nobody books it.
Project budget covers it, owner assigned. The two suppliers have the same drawing revision for the trial. We should finally get beyond circling the same gap in three colours.
Keep the accepted support result connected to the exact pattern afterwards. If someone changes the placement to make the robot path shorter, packaging needs to see whether the case positions changed too.
Packing has tested two arrangements. They prefer a changed second layer; the original span showed more base deflection than they were willing to accept. Tool access on the revision is still being checked.
One row moved so the supported edges sit over case walls below. Same outer footprint, different internal gaps. That's why the gripper supplier needs another look before approval.