Company Profile:
Xymox Technologies specializes in printed electronics—manufacturing membrane switches, touch sensors, and intricate circuitry with exceptional reliability and craftsmanship, designed and built in the U.S.
The Challenge:
Prior to shipping, every unit—membrane switch, touch sensor, and LED assembly—undergoes 100% functional electrical testing. Traditionally, assembly technicians manually pressed buttons by the millions, a repetitive and physically taxing task. This workflow posed both a risk of operator fatigue and a distraction from more value-adding responsibilities.
The Cobot Solution:
Seeking to reduce fatigue and streamline testing, Xymox explored collaborative robots—cobots that can safely operate alongside humans without safety cages. They identified the OB7 cobot as a perfect fit due to its ease of programming and intuitive interface. During a demo at a local distributor, assembly technicians were able to teach and operate the robot within minutes using the OB7’s tablet-based control system.
Implementation Details:
Xymox handled the entire integration internally. They designed precise fixtures with alignment grids for each product variant, ensuring consistent positioning for testing. Additionally, they engineered a custom end effector to control how much pressure was applied to each button. With the fixtures mounted near the OB7, the robot executes button presses while technicians are only required to plug in and unplug the devices under test. Teaching the cobot was quick and intuitive; when needed, support from Productive Robotics was accessible and responsive.
Impact & Outlook:
The OB7 cobot serves as a safe and effective entry point for automation in Xymox’s electrical testing workflow. It significantly reduces manual strain on technicians while allowing them to focus on higher-value tasks. Looking ahead, Xymox views cobots as a strategic tool for offloading repetitive tasks and enabling human workers to contribute where their skills and critical thinking are most needed.
Read more here: https://www.productiverobotics.com/case-studies/xymox
