Zero-Point Mill Automation System

VersaBuilt’s Zero-Point Mill Automation System is a turnkey CNC mill automation solution that uses industry-standard zero-point (ZPS) vises or pallets to deliver fast, repeatable, one-operation machine tending. Material is pre-loaded into ZPS vises offline, and the robot automatically loads and unloads complete vise assemblies in and out of your CNC mill—reducing setup time, cutting manual labor, and keeping the spindle running.

This system is ideal for shops running high-mix, low-volume (HMLV) production that want the speed of zero-point fixturing combined with a reliable, easy-to-use cobot mill tending platform.

Now Available with Fanuc CRX Robots

VersaBuilt offers the Zero-Point Mill Automation System with Fanuc CRX collaborative robots, giving you a production-ready cobot CNC tending solution backed by one of the most trusted names in industrial robotics. Fanuc CRX cobots are designed for:

• Simple, graphical programming for fast deployment
• Reliable 24/7 operation in demanding production environments
• Built-in safety functions for collaborative applications
• Flexible payload and reach options to fit different CNC mill sizes

How the Zero-Point Mill Automation System Works

With zero-point fixturing, your team can fixture multiple jobs offline using ZPS vises. The automation system then:

1. Retrieves a pre-loaded zero-point vise with raw material.
2. Loads the complete vise assembly into the CNC machine.
3. Signals the CNC to run the part (single-operation machining).
4. Removes the vise with the finished part and stages it for the operator.

Because the robot handles the entire vise instead of gripping the part directly, setup is faster, changeovers are simpler, and repeatability is maintained across shifts and job runs.

Key Benefits of Zero-Point Mill Automation

• True One-Operation Automation – Load and unload complete ZPS vises with no re-clamping and no complex part grips.
• High-Mix Flexibility – Fixture multiple part numbers offline and switch jobs in minutes, without robot re-teaching.
• Reduced Setup Time – Standardized workflows and zero-point fixturing slash changeover time between jobs.
• Consistent, Repeatable Quality – Automated vise handling maintains precise, repeatable positioning and clamping.
• Operator-Friendly – Let the cobot handle repetitive loading and unloading while machinists focus on higher-value work.
• Scalable CNC Automation – Start with one mill and expand to additional machines using the same automation platform.