Can robots and CNC machines be recycled?

Buying a robot or CNC machine brand-new for your production can be a significant investment. However, you can save a considerable amount by choosing to buy a used robot or CNC machine—or by repurposing one you already have in your production facility.

Here you can read about what other companies have done.

BoConcept – robot and CNC machine from another company

BoConcept manufactures furniture. When the company needed a new system for producing tabletops, it made sense for them to look into used machinery.

The setup included both a used CNC machine and a used Fanuc robot. The robot picks up the workpiece and rough-mills it on a milling spindle, after which it transfers the workpiece to the CNC machine, which mills profiles into the tabletop. Once that is done, the robot picks up the workpiece again and places it on a conveyor belt, which transports the tabletop out of the facility.

The production line at BoConcept was installed in 2021, but the CNC machine dates back to 2001, while the robot was installed in 2008. Both were refurbished—the CNC machine with a new OSAI control system, among other upgrades, and the robot with a new gripper—so they were ideally equipped to optimize production at BoConcept.

Saferoad – a robot manufactured in-house

Previously, Saferoad’s road signs were cut using a waterjet. Once the sheets had been laminated, they were transported via a conveyor belt to a robot, which lifted them and transferred them to the waterjet.

When the company needed to optimize production, they decided to replace the waterjet with a CNC machine. However, the flow itself worked flawlessly for the purpose, so there was no reason to replace the robot or alter its function.

That is why the robot was reprogrammed so that it can now load sheets onto the CNC machine.

The CNC machine offers Saferoad the advantage of being able to place the sign outlines closer together. This allows for better use of space and reduces waste.

What should you keep in mind?

If you decide to buy a used robot or CNC machine, you should check whether the robot or CNC machine has been regularly and properly maintained and serviced.

Robots and CNC machines can last for many years, but proper maintenance is essential to ensuring they operate at peak performance throughout their entire lifespan.

Similarly, you should be prepared to service and maintain the robot or CNC machine yourself once you’ve purchased it and integrated it into your production process. If you do so, it won’t be a problem if the robot or CNC machine is already several years old by the time you start using it.

And keep in mind that the robot or CNC machine will always need to be reprogrammed to fit your production process and any other machines in the workflow. This applies even if it’s a robot or machine you already have at your company.

If you want to ensure that your robot or CNC machine always receives the correct and optimal service, you may want to consider purchasing a service agreement. This way, you are guaranteed regular maintenance as well as easy access to service technicians should a malfunction suddenly occur with the robot or machine. All Gibotech service technicians specialize in automation and therefore have in-depth knowledge of both robots and CNC machines.