Special Purpose Machines (SPM)
Special Purpose Machines (SPM) are tools used to manufacture products and parts that are not yet commercially available.
A special purpose machine (SPM) is a machine tool designed for a particular task. They are often used in manufacturing processes that do not require the precision of other machines, such as CNC machines. SPMs are primarily used to produce products and parts that are not yet commercially available.
Examples of SPMs include:
- A system designed to test the quality of an automobile part before it is put into production or sold
- An automated machine that performs lapping operations on a part or product
- A heat exchanger that has been specially designed for a particular application
SPMs are also known as custom-built machines and are designed to perform functions specific to certain functional requirement of a process.
A special purpose machine (SPM) is a custom-built, one-off machine designed to perform a specific function in a manufacturing environment. SPMs are designed and manufactured to meet specific functional requirements of the particular application they are employed in. The ideal situation is that the performance of an SPM should be closely matched to the requirement of the process being carried out by it.
In a manufacturing environment, an SPM could be as simple as a drill stand or as complex as an automatic transfer line consisting of hundreds of coordinated machines linked together into one complete production system. Other examples include:
- A bottle filling machine
- A screw feeding machine
- A gear testing machine
Thus, SPMs assist in production and operation of mass manufacturing products with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency.
- SPMs help increase productivity by focusing on performing only a single task or process, and being able to perform it faster than standard machines.
- SPMs improve the accuracy of products by being designed to account for even slight variations in parts and materials, which helps ensure that every part of every product is uniform. This can help reduce manufacturing costs since there will be fewer defective parts that need to be thrown out before assembly.
- SPMs are more efficient than standard machines because they're meant for one task only, rather than many different ones like other types of machines (e.g., an assembly line).
There are two types of Special Purpose Machines - Standard machines, which basically give an output based on the input given and Programmable machines.
- To simplify, there are two types of SPM: Standard machines and Programmable machines.
- Standard machines come in the simplest form of SPM. These sort of SPMs require an operator to perform minor or major operations on them to get an output based on the input given.
- Programmable machines, however, have more complex operations. They require skilled programming personnel who can program these machines so that they can be operated by a non-skilled operator. Hence, these are more versatile and less prone to error when compared with standard SSPMs
These are complex devices that usually require skilled programming personnel to operate them.
Special Purpose Machines (SPM) contain very complex systems, so they usually require skilled programming personnel to operate them. This can be done in-house by the company itself or through an outside contractor. The programming is done directly on the machine itself, but it must be done by trained programmers who are familiar with the machine's workings and programming code.
At the same time, these machines serve multiple purposes such as grinding, boring, drilling, milling etc in a single set up which ensures high productivity with negligible wastage of time and energy.
These machines are used to increase production rate, reduce the labour cost and achieve complete accuracy that a machine tool is capable of. At the same time, these machines serve multiple purposes such as grinding, boring, drilling, milling etc in a single set up which ensures high productivity with negligible wastage of time and energy.
Special Purpose Machines (SPM) are required in almost all types of industries including automobile industry, electronic industry and electrical industries. There are various methods to build SPMs depending on the application and requirement of work.
These machines have been specifically designed to reduce cost, increase productivity and achieve 100% accuracy.
These machines have been specifically designed to reduce cost, increase productivity and achieve 100% accuracy.
There are many benefits of using a special purpose machine (SPM) for your production line:
- reduce the cost of production
- increase productivity
- achieve 100% accuracy
- increase the speed of production
- ensure the safety of the product
- enable the company to meet the demands of the mark
Special Purpose Machines are able to reduce production costs and improve quality
- Reduce the number of machines in your production line.
- Reduce the number of operators required to run your production line.
- Reduce the amount of space needed by your production line.
- Increase productivity and efficiency on your production line.
- Improve accuracy and quality of your end product.