SawJet Robots for the Stone Cutting Industry | Productivity and Safety

Lakeside Surfaces was born more than 25 years ago in the garage of President and CEO Rob Riegler, but has grown to be one of the largest quartz surface crafters in the Midwest region of the United States. The Michigan-based company specializes in turning quartz into precisely crafted countertops, shower walls, and fireplace rounds. Lakeside Surfaces is no stranger to automation, but when planning their new state-of-the-art facility the company discovered the unique advantages of implementing robotic solutions.
More about Lakeside Surfaces: lakesidesurfaces.com/
More about BACA Systems: bacasystems.com/
More about foundry grade KUKA Robots: www.kuka.com/en-us/industries...
Putting their in-house software developers and high-pressure technology specialists to good use, KUKA partner BACA Systems developed and installed two RS202 Robo SawJets based on the KUKA KR 210 robot. With an abrasive water jet, a 20HP direct-drive saw featuring a diamond cutting head, and the unsurpassed precision of the KUKA KR 210 robot, this setup opened a new realm of productivity and creative flexibility for Lakeside Surfaces. As a foundry-grade robot, the KUKA KR 210 is uniquely resilient when subjected to the highly abrasive environment of quartz cutting. Using a dual-table design each Robo SawJet can cut material on one table while the other table is being loaded and unloaded. Add to that the reduced maintenance and minimal downtime of the KUKA KR 210 robotic arm and the total cost of ownership is significantly lower than a traditional custom-built machine.
With modern robotic accuracy comes consistent quality, improved efficiency, reduced delivery times, and enhanced flexibility; advantages that support Lakeside Surfaces’ expanding business. That improved accuracy also helps Lakeside Surfaces meet the changing needs of their customers. Recent years have seen customer tastes shift to a more natural stone aesthetic. To meet that demand Lakeside Surfaces uses a BACA-developed vein-matching visual system and the unparalleled accuracy of the KUKA KR 210 robotic arm, allowing the company to index and cut quartz slabs with such precision that it’s difficult for customers to visually identify any seams.
Lakeside Surfaces embraces a human-focused culture. That laudable philosophy has been supported by BACA’s KUKA-based robotics solution through a program called Lakeside University. With this program the company’s employees have learned high-tech skills related to CNC equipment, robotics, programming, and engineering in a short timeframe, helping them better utilize Lakeside’s new robotic tools. Lakeside Surfaces has also harnessed the repeatable precision of the KUKA KR 210 robot to improve the health of their employees. Respirable Silica is a microscopic byproduct of quartz manufacturing that can build up in workers’ lungs, resulting in serious health implications. Through testing, refining, and implementing repeatable production processes with their BACA Robo SawJets, Lakeside Surfaces is working to reduce respirable silica even lower than the US government’s already stringent standards.

[@user-hl7eg9qk4w]

I'm a saw jet operator. It's an awesome and genius machine.

[@Neo7CNC]

Great application!

[@jimsvideos7201]

Neat!

[@khetansarvesh]

amazing technology

[@matterdaddy1937]

Gantry saw is for precision and robo for high production. Amazing piece of machinery I’ve personally operated one of these but the owner had way too high of expectations. When the arm extends the cuts get off a bit and the only way we could cut dekton and quartzite was jet only. Great for commercial jobs or high flow residential or have CNC’s clean it up after.

[@senozk6783]

Hi @Matterdaddy! Have you got any answer for your comment? Recently I got same comment from a stone fabricator regarding precision issue on cuts which appears as the machine worn out. This is not what we are reading or hearing from Baca or Kuka.

[@josemaita2324]

I whis to learn how to use it . I work in this kind of job it looks very interesting

[@MagutoKibetTyson]

Very interesting,

[@allinone00011]

Hey! I am from India, my name is Ramesh and I have a large number of different and different natural granite( original ) available and Granite Mortar and Pestle Set also, so would you like to buy if yes please send me your contact details so that we can discuss more and deal get done.,,,,

[@profproc_com]

is there one universal robotic arm that would be able to do cutting, welding, sculpting and 3d printing with cement?

[@Phoxtane]

Is the material being cut with a waterjet glowing? Talking about the shot at 5:23

[@KUKARobotGroup]

Yes! Good eye. That’s the heat generated from the abrasive silica in the water.

[@JDDunn9]

Would love to see the whole process. Does it cut out the sink too, or just the outline? When does it use waterjets vs the wet saw?

[@julianreverse]

Curves are cut with the saw, straight lines with the waterjet. The sink is done manually with the jackhammer.

[@KUKARobotGroup]

Hi James, see our reply to Jurij as well. With most success stories we are now doing two videos, one focused on the overall story (like this one) and one focused on just the application. We will be doing an application-only video for this as well, and it will come out soon. Keep an eye on this channel!

[@petercampbell7047]

Mm.. Lol O

[@petercampbell7047]

Mm.. Lol O

[@petercampbell7047]

Peace Universal Unison's Ultrasound waves UltraSupersonic Orbitals Harmonious Satellites Operations Shortwaves Frequencies Specialist Transmissions Universal Planetary Programmed Programmeable International Environmental Shortwaves Frequencies Specialists Transmissions Sw20=21Khz Transmissions Planetary Programmeable Radios Cncs Automated Reverse Mechanical Robotic Machines Services to Labour Together For Universal Planetary International Environmental Nuclears Diffusions Disarmament s Kind.Satellites Operations Shortwaves Frequencies Finds Transmissions Sos Morse Cod d Singles Specialist Universal Planetary Programmed Programmeable Transmissions NNuclears🍑Diffusions Disarmament s Kind And All Cival Planetary International Environmental Militaries and None Military Decommissioned Reproductions Salvaging And Desposealings Kind 😣🌟🌍🌎🌏🌕🚺🚹💚🟢♥️🔴☮️☢️🔄🛑㊗️🌈🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀@@julianreverse

[@williamhuang5329]

Hanzhen harmonic drive gear , strain wave reducer, robot joint , over 30 years experience

[@PumpiPie]

How mutch for this robot system? :D

[@sanjuansteve]

Imagine how productive and self sufficient the world will be when every home and every school in the world has a robotic arm with 3D printing, etc attachments and with solar panels to power them.

[@KUKARobotGroup]

We like that thought! Keep an eye on KUKA. There’ll be some big announcements next week at Hannover Fair!

[@sanjuansteve]

I imagine people having a plastic shredder that melts plastic garbage into 3D printing filament, 3D printing custom shoes that can be shredded and re-printed, etc too.

[@diegopiscoya4318]

i would love to work for KUKA some day, what will give me a better chance: computer engineering or electrical engineering ? thanks

[@taavikoppel1769]

Try mechanical engineering or electromechanical. The challenge with robots is precision. If the mechanical side is weak you don't have a useable robot.

[@diegopiscoya4318]

thank you for the feedback sir

[@CyberlightFG]

Ask Kuka.

[@aleksandersuur9475]

+Taavi Koppel Even best articulated arm type robots don't have any accuracy to speak of, manufacturers don't even list it in the spec sheets. It's inherent problem with 6 axis robot construction. Best you can do with a robot from mechanical perspective is make it rigid and get high repeatability. If you want it to also be accurate then you will need external position feedback and compensation, that pretty much devolves into software engineering effort. There will always be work for mechanical engineers, but if you want to deal with robots specifically, then software engineering is what makes them do anything beyond simplest of operations.

[@KUKARobotGroup]

Hi Diego, good news is that KUKA is growing! We always have need for high quality applicants in many engineering disciplines (software and mechanical for sure). Mostly it depends on what kind of role you want to have. Are you more into the idea of product management, R&D, business development, technical sales, service, etc.? if you are in university, a good place to start is as a working student./intern at KUKA to get a better idea of what discipline you want to pursue (and can sometimes even be applied as credits at university). If you ever want to browse our available internships and jobs, you can look here: www.kuka.com/en-de/careers

[@alexa.davronov1537]

That's quite interesting but when you'll be using robots to build completely others ones?

[@julianreverse]

They are already doing so :-D

[@alexa.davronov1537]

Link please!

[@julianreverse]

Visit the Kuka Plant Augsburg, Germany ;-)

[@alexa.davronov1537]

Well I would truly like to do so but I can't cause I live in Russia. :)

[@JB-ht6lc]

very nice video, but it would be nice to see more action :)

[@KUKARobotGroup]

Hi Jurij, thanks for the comment. With most success stories we are now doing two videos, one focused on the overall story (like this one) and one focused on just the application. We will be doing an application-only video for this as well, and it will come out soon. Keep an eye on this channel!

[@JB-ht6lc]

Thnx for reply, I am waiting impatiently! Kuka's commercials and other videos (especially ping-pong series, Automatica by Nigel Stanford and alike) are very entertaining. If I would be in manufacturing business I would definitely find a way to get one as a capital asset, too bad I am sworn attorney and there is no way I could use your magnificent equipment in legal field :) So keeping an eye on this channel is what I can (and certainly will) do :)

[@user-wt4zx7hx7r]

why was his mouse pad upside down?

[@SteinmetzKramerGmbH]

Leider nicht in Deutschland verfügbar.....

[@CyberlightFG]

This saw looks heavy. Why don't you change the tools?

[@KUKARobotGroup]

Having both tools on one arm allows for faster processing. Our partner BACA Systems would be the best to follow up on this question.

[@CyberlightFG]

I watched again. That saved the arm media connectors and that makes perfect sense.

[@mustafazeren5026]

Tabiki yinede Allah'a şükürler olsun hiç imkanı olamayanlara Allah yardım etsin

[@sinchrotron]

Baca no Kuka 0w0

[@Sorga_myth_dewa_real]

here wonderfull works,,we have now in,making some self increase battery,,by catching from natural wild static electric,,receiver on electric,,easy right,thanks,,sorry,,,hhe