Here are two videos showing a custom machine made by Synthesis. The videos are a demonstration tour, SIM Demonstration. The project started with conceptualization and design, but only of what we call the "heart" of the machine. It then continued with fabrication and some initial testing.
The complete machine as shown in these videos grew from the heart to the complete build, as the customer decided on additional features. These 2 videos provide a quick tour, but admittedly, it's amateur video. We apologize that it is not very good video quality. (It was taken in 2010, and phone cameras at the time were not very good.) Also, some of the features and functions are a little hard to see because it is hard (and not very safe) to get into a running machine to take video. Oh well. We hope you can Enjoy the videos anyway.
SIM Demonstration Video #1
We call it the "Strap Insertion Machine" or SIM for short because that's how it started. We also call it "The Big Machine" because that's how it finished. As machines go, this one is not really that big. However, it does use fair amount of factory floor space and there are a lot of moving parts.
The project started with the central portion, or heart, where straps insert or thread through the stamping slots. Think of it as weaving with metal. As the project progressed, additional features were requested, then added until it became the complete machine shown. The heart is strap insertion, and the rest is feeding the product in, then post-processing and bundling it for final packaging.
Unfortunately, you can't really see the strap insertion in the video. We can see the strap driving motors running at high speed, and we can hear the cutting and "tweak" bend of the strap ends. But these SIM demonstration videos can't really show the insertion - which is the most creative part.
Also, these SIM demonstration videos don't show the full scope of the machine. It is about 50 feet side to side, and roughly 20 feet front to back. It has 3 reels of raw material feeding it - one for the main stamping machine at the beginning, then two (one on each side) feeding the strap for insertion. The videos focus more on the core product flow.
Most of the machine stands less than 8 feet tall, but the feed accumulators are about 13 feet high - one at each end (unfortunately, not shown in the video). To see more, a second SIM demonstration video from a different perspective is just below. The 2 videos show different areas of this custom machine, so watch both.
By the way, if you want to see a non-traditional way the output of the machine - the track - is used, we have a flashback video showing the track used for lighting. Off-script, but a cool use of the product.
Do You Need A Custom Machine?
Whether for manufacturing, or for production support, or for custom fabrication, or for On-The-Job operations, Synthesis designs and builds a lot of cool machines. Big ones, small ones, and many between. This one has the largest floor footprint we've done, but it's not the heaviest, the tallest, or the most expensive.
And, it's not just the automated equipment. We also design a lot of custom tools, specialty jigs and fixtures. That's all in the category with "Custom Machine" because they improve efficiency and productivity. Please see our Engineering Services page on Custom Machines for a lot more information and examples.
SIM Demonstration Video #2
Additional Synthesis videos are available elsewhere on this website, and on our YouTube Channel. Follow us, or check back once in a while to see the new and interesting posts.
If you need something along these lines, whether automated or manual, please Give us a Shout. It won't hurt to find out if we are able to assist.