Title

HUMAN-FREE QUALITY CONTROL OF LONG PRODUCTS IN THE COOLING BED

HUMAN-FREE QUALITY CONTROL OF LONG PRODUCTS IN THE COOLING BED

Authorship

JACOB, RAFAEL; SOARES, DIEGO

JACOB, RAFAEL

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SOARES, DIEGO

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DOI

10.5151/2594-5335-42009

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Abstract

Manual sample extraction from steel products on the cooling bed poses significant safety hazards and operational inefficiencies due to high temperatures, moving machinery, and the need to halt production. This project introduces a fully automated robotic system for sample collection that eliminates human intervention in hazardous zones, improves sample consistency, and reduces downtime. The system integrates a 6-axis industrial robot, precision cutting tools, and advanced 2D/3D vision systems to locate, cut, and retrieve samples autonomously. A preliminary feasibility study guided the development of an optimized layout and robotic workflow, resulting in a CAD-based simulation and engineering documentation. The deployed system enables real-time, accurate sample extraction without disrupting the cooling bed cycle, achieving an average sampling time of 20 seconds. Integration with Industry 4.0 infrastructure allows for remote monitoring and coordination with plant automation systems. Case studies demonstrate successful implementation across multiple sites, confirming enhanced safety, productivity, and quality control in steel manufacturing environments.

MANUAL SAMPLE EXTRACTION FROM STEEL PRODUCTS ON THE COOLING BED POSES SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARDS AND OPERATIONAL INEFFICIENCIES DUE TO HIGH TEMPERATURES, MOVING MACHINERY, AND THE NEED TO HALT PRODUCTION. THIS PROJECT INTRODUCES A FULLY AUTOMATED ROBOTIC SYSTEM FOR SAMPLE COLLECTION THAT ELIMINATES HUMAN INTERVENTION IN HAZARDOUS ZONES, IMPROVES SAMPLE CONSISTENCY, AND REDUCES DOWNTIME. THE SYSTEM INTEGRATES A 6-AXIS INDUSTRIAL ROBOT, PRECISION CUTTING TOOLS, AND ADVANCED 2D/3D VISION SYSTEMS TO LOCATE, CUT, AND RETRIEVE SAMPLES AUTONOMOUSLY. A PRELIMINARY FEASIBILITY STUDY GUIDED THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN OPTIMIZED LAYOUT AND ROBOTIC WORKFLOW, RESULTING IN A CAD-BASED SIMULATION AND ENGINEERING DOCUMENTATION. THE DEPLOYED SYSTEM ENABLES REAL-TIME, ACCURATE SAMPLE EXTRACTION WITHOUT DISRUPTING THE COOLING BED CYCLE, ACHIEVING AN AVERAGE SAMPLING TIME OF 20 SECONDS. INTEGRATION WITH INDUSTRY 4.0 INFRASTRUCTURE ALLOWS FOR REMOTE MONITORING AND COORDINATION WITH PLANT AUTOMATION SYSTEMS. CASE STUDIES DEMONSTRATE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION ACROSS MULTIPLE SITES, CONFIRMING ENHANCED SAFETY, PRODUCTIVITY, AND QUALITY CONTROL IN STEEL MANUFACTURING ENVIRONMENTS.

Keywords

Robotics, Computer Vision, Cooling Bed, Long Products

Robotics, Computer Vision, Cooling Bed, Long Products