Filar-Optomaterials manufactures synthetic crystals through an industrial chain starting from raw material sintering until the supply of the final product to the end-user. In this industry, it is vital to establish advanced instruments and mechanisms for the QC reinforcement and thus better control of the existing processes.

The focus for Shadow Robot  is on the automation of a specific stage of the production line of the Filar-OM use case: crystal chamfering. The process of chamfering the crystal rods requires different manipulation capabilities to ensure a firm and steady grasp of the crystal rod throughout the whole process while applying a constant force to allow the uniform grinding of the rod. The automation of the task will enhance quality and improve production efficiency.

A simulation was conducted at Shadow’s lab mimicking the Filar use-case first with a uni-manual tele-operation system and then with bi-manual system. The operator was able to easily approach the object, grasp the rod and place it in proximity of the turntable and a good grasp while the rod is pressing on the rotating plate. Still improvements are to be done for what concerns the control in order for the operator to maintain a constant pressure.

Figure 1 – Picture from the demo