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Automated Arc Milling, Drilling, and Outer Diameter Turning Line
Gantry Robot Integrated Machining Solution by Jiakun Machinery
In today’s highly competitive manufacturing environment, reducing labor dependency while maintaining consistent machining quality has become a core challenge for precision metal part manufacturers. To address this demand, Jiakun Machinery has developed a highly efficient automated machining line integrating arc milling, drilling, and outer diameter turning, seamlessly connected by a gantry robot system.
With over 30 years of manufacturing experience, Jiakun Machinery provides professional automation solutions that help customers achieve cost reduction, productivity improvement, and stable mass production.
Overview of the Automated Machining Line
This automated solution integrates multiple machining processes into a single continuous production line:
Arc Milling
Drilling
Outer Diameter Turning
Gantry Robot Handling and Transfer
Manual Material Array Placement (Low-cost Feeding Solution)
Raw materials are manually arranged in arrays, reducing complex feeding costs while maintaining flexibility. A gantry robot performs automated loading, unloading, and inter-machine transportation, enabling smooth, uninterrupted production.
This configuration is ideal for manufacturers seeking a balance between automation investment and operational efficiency.
Process Flow Description
Step 1: Manual Material Array Placement
Operators place raw parts in a fixed array layout on pallets or work tables.
This method:
Avoids expensive automatic feeders
Maintains high flexibility for multiple part types
Reduces initial investment costs
Once placed, the system can run continuously with minimal human intervention.
Step 2: Arc Milling Operation
The first machining station performs precision arc milling, ensuring accurate profiles and surface consistency.
This operation is critical for parts that require curved contours or mating surfaces.
Key advantages:
High repeatability
Stable dimensional accuracy
Reduced scrap rate
Step 3: Drilling Operation
After arc milling, the gantry robot transfers the workpiece to the drilling station.
Features:
Precise hole positioning
Consistent depth and diameter
Suitable for batch and mass production
Drilling parameters can be customized based on material type and tolerance requirements.
Step 4: Outer Diameter Turning
The final machining stage is outer diameter turning, typically performed on a CNC lathe.
Benefits:
Excellent concentricity
Smooth surface finish
Tight dimensional control
By integrating turning into the automated line, manual handling between processes is completely eliminated.
Step 5: Gantry Robot Transfer and Handling
The gantry robot is the core of this automated system. It performs:
Automatic loading and unloading
Accurate positioning
Fast and stable inter-machine transfer
Compared to manual handling, gantry robots offer:
Higher speed
Consistent accuracy
24/7 stable operation
Why Use a Gantry Robot System?
Compared with traditional robotic arms, gantry robots are particularly suitable for machine tool linkage applications.
Key Advantages:
High rigidity and load capacity
Simple structure and easy maintenance
Excellent repeat positioning accuracy
Ideal for linear machine layouts
For machining lines involving milling, drilling, and turning, gantry robots provide the best balance of performance and cost.
Labor Cost Reduction and Efficiency Improvement
One of the biggest benefits of this solution is its ability to significantly reduce labor costs.
Traditional Production Mode:
Multiple operators required
Frequent manual loading/unloading
High labor dependency
Inconsistent quality due to human factors
Jiakun Automated Line:
1 operator can supervise multiple machines
Minimal manual intervention
Stable cycle time
Consistent machining quality
This results in:
Lower labor cost per part
Higher overall equipment efficiency (OEE)
Faster return on investment (ROI)
Flexible Automation with Controlled Investment
Unlike fully automated feeding systems, Jiakun’s solution adopts a manual array + gantry robot approach.
This design:
Reduces automation cost
Maintains scalability
Allows future upgrades to full automation
It is especially suitable for:
SMEs
Growing manufacturers
Multi-product production lines
Applications and Industries
This automated machining solution is widely used in:
Automotive components
Bicycle and motorcycle parts
Hardware and fasteners
Mechanical shafts and sleeves
Precision metal components
It supports materials such as:
Carbon steel
Alloy steel
Aluminum
Stainless steel
Customization Capability – Jiakun Machinery Advantage
Every factory has different products, layouts, and production goals.
At Jiakun Machinery, we believe automation must be customized, not standardized.Our engineering team provides:
Process evaluation
Layout design
Cycle time optimization
Fixture and tooling integration
Automation level planning
From semi-automatic to fully automatic solutions, we tailor each line to match the customer’s real production needs.
30 Years of Manufacturing Experience
Founded over 30 years ago, Jiakun Machinery has grown from a traditional machine tool manufacturer into a professional automation solution provider.
Our experience includes:
CNC lathes
Milling machines
Multi-process machining lines
Robotic automation systems
Custom non-standard equipment
This deep manufacturing background allows us to design automation solutions that are practical, reliable, and production-proven.
Quality, Stability, and Long-Term Reliability
All Jiakun automation systems are designed with:
Industrial-grade components
Robust mechanical structures
Long-term stability in mind
Before delivery, each system undergoes:
Full assembly testing
Continuous trial operation
Process stability verification
We focus not only on automation, but also on long-term operational reliability.
Why Choose Jiakun Machinery?
✔ 30 years of factory experience
✔ Professional automation engineering team
✔ Flexible and cost-effective solutions
✔ Proven machining and automation expertise
✔ Long-term technical support
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