Mechanical Engineering Capstone Project 2010

W.L. Gore and Associates, Inc., is a company that manufactures many products derived from the polymer polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Their medical division produces bioabsorbable devices, synthetic vascular grafts, interventional devices and more. During the manufacturing of these devices it is critical that the correct part is delivered to the assembly for which it is designed. The differences between many parts are indistinguishable by visual inspection. Therefore, W.L. Gore and Associates, Inc., requires an automated machine that will effectively eliminate error during the production of their medical devices.

A material automated retrieval system (MARS) was designed and manufactured to meet the needs of the client’s production line. During assembly, a product will be scanned by the machine. This prompts the automated presentation of the correct material. It also provides error proof restocking and prevents unauthorized access.