Machina Labs Announces Machina Deployable System for Metal Forming at FABTECH

Machina Labs yesterday announced the commercial availability of the Machina Deployable System, a portable robotic system that digitally forms and cuts custom composite and metal parts. It is making its debut at FABTECH this week in Chicago.

“Machina Labs has a mission to develop manufacturing solutions that give businesses the ability to make changes with ease, and iterate and produce rapidly,” said Edward Mehr, co-founder and CEO of Machina Labs, in a release.

“Our portable Deployable System is a game-changer in the manufacturing world,” he asserted. “By providing manufacturers with a portable solution that combines flexibility, precision, and speed, we are essentially putting a 21st century blacksmith shop in the backyard of any business that wants one.”

Founded in 2019 by aerospace and automotive industry veterans, Machina Labs is a Los Angeles-based advanced manufacturing company. Enabled by advances in artificial intelligence and robotics, Machina said it is developing “software-defined factories of the future.”

Machina Labs' stated mission is to develop modular systems that can be reconfigured to manufacture new products simply by changing the software, with minimal disruption to facilities or operations.

RoboForming and the Machina Deployable System

Machina Labs said its RoboForming technology is available as an on-premise, stand-alone option to virtually any production facility — including those in remote locations, such as an aircraft carrier. It can be installed into an existing environment without significant foundational changes and work with any industrial robot, said the company.

Customers already are using the offering for tooling, sustainment, research and development, rapid prototyping, and production to rapidly produce large, complex sheet-metal parts at the point of use, Machina Labs said. The Machina Deployable System can form aluminum, steel, titanium, Inconel, and other metals up to thicknesses of ¼ inch and into parts as large as 12 x 5 x 4 ft.

“If it bends, the Machina Deployable System can form it,” claimed the company.

From small, custom workshops to large-scale manufacturing facilities, the new system “redefines the possibilities of on-demand manufacturing, rapid prototyping, and agile hardware development and production,” said Machina. It cited the example of the U.S. Air Force, which is using the Machina Deployable System for maintenance and repair — or sustainment — of older aircraft where suppliers and parts are no longer being fabricated.

The Machina Deployable System consists of a portable platform, two seven-axis robotic arms, tool-changing corral, and a configurable frame, along with AI-driven process controls. The system can be transported on the back of a truck, can be up and running in a matter of hours on-premise and work with any industrial robot, Machina said.

Partner KUKA at FABTECH

“Machina Labs’ advanced manufacturing platform utilizes our advanced robotic arms in new and innovative ways,” according to Casey DiBattista, chief regional officer for North America at KUKA Robotics. “Their intelligent process controls and proprietary end effectors are unlocking cutting-edge manufacturing capabilities never thought possible that we are delighted to support.”

“We pride ourselves on partnering with forward-thinking companies like Machina Labs that pioneer new ways for automation to impact industry,” he said. “We are excited to host the debut of the Machina Deployable System at the KUKA Booth B27051 during this year’s FABTECH.”

Augsburg, Germany-based KUKA reported sales of around €4 billion ($4.29 billion U.S.) and about 15,000 employees. The Augsburg, Germany-based company said it offers a single source for technologies ranging from robots and cells to fully automated systems.

KUKA provides systems and connectivity to markets such as automotive, with a focus on e-mobility, batteries, electronics, metal and plastic, consumer goods, e-commerce, retail, and healthcare. It plans to begin delivering the portable system later this year.

Interested parties can contact Machina Labs for more information about price, availability, or training or to request a demonstation.

Mehr is speaking at FABTECH. On Sept. 11, he will discuss “Robotic Sheet Shaping: A Thesis on the Future of Manufacturing” at 2:00 p.m. CT in Room S501BC. On Sept. 13, Mehr is participating in a panel entitled “Advancing Robotics in the Fabrication Metal Industry” at 12:30 pm CT in the FABTECH Theater.

Editor's note: For more about FABTECH, visit Robotics 24/7's special coverage page.