Hermle opened its site in Gosheim to the public for a total of four days. Around 2,300 trade visitors from over 1,000 companies took the opportunity to get an idea of the latest developments and trends at the family-run company. In addition to its machines, the machine tool specialist also showcased automation solutions and new developments in the field of digitalization. The second generation of the RS 05-2 robot system was shown for the first time. The system can now be adapted to the front of the C 250, C 400 and C 32 machines and to the side of the C 12 and C 22 machines. The modular robot system requires a space of around 2 m². Depending on the application, it can be equipped with various storage modules: as a system with a single die, a storage system with five telescopic drawers with die storage, a pallet storage system or as a Kanban system.

The robot's load capacity has been increased for the second generation: it can now handle blanks or workpieces weighing up to 10 kg.

It is also used for die handling from and into the various storage units by pulling the dies out of the storage unit or pushing them back in again using a pulling and pushing device adapted to the gripper. The robot can be equipped with either a single or double gripper. It also has an additional blow-off unit for cleaning the clamping device.

Using the Graphical Robot Programming (GRP), which is integrated into the SmartPad, the various workpiece blanks are positioned on the dies via input values, robot sequences and the insertion of the workpieces into the respective clamping device of the machine are implemented.

Operator access to the machine has also been optimized, making it easier for them to reach the work area and the storage tank for manual set-up or inspection work.

The robot system is supported by the Hermle Automation Control System, or HACS for short. The automation software has been in use for some time on the pallet changing and handling systems and also on robot systems. In addition, a swivel-mounted control panel has been adapted at the set-up station. The user interface enables the operator to use various applications and operating functions such as drag & drop. In addition, the clear structure of the system provides an overview of all relevant data both at the set-up station and at the machine control system, be it a system overview, work plans, pallets, sequence plan, tasks or a tool table. All newly set-up workpieces are automatically added to the sequence plan. Orders can be prioritized by defining them.