System and method for manufacturing plastic injection stack components

A method for machining mold cavity workpieces for use in manufacturing plastic parts in a plastic injection mold machine, comprising the steps of:

• loading, into a master cabinet, a first workpiece for use in a first mold cavity, a second workpiece for use in a second mold cavity, a first electrode for use in machining said first workpiece, and a second electrode for use in machining said second workpiece;
• retrieving, by a master robot, said first and second workpieces and said first and second electrodes from said master cabinet;
• guiding said master robot along a track and positioning said master robot proximate a first subcell;
• while said master robot is proximate said first subcell, loading, by said master robot, said first workpiece and said first electrode into a first cabinet associated with said first subcell;
• guiding said master robot along said track and positioning said master robot proximate a second subcell;
• while said master robot is proximate said second subcell loading, by said master robot, said second workpiece and said second electrode into a second cabinet associated with said second subcell;
• transferring, by a first robot associated with said first subcell, said first workpiece and said first electrode to a first machine associated with said first subcell;
• and
• transferring, by a second robot associated with said second subcell, said second workpiece and said second electrode to a second machine associated with said second subcell.

A system for manufacturing plastic injection mold cavity components, comprising:

• A first subcell, including:
• a first cabinet for retrievably storing a plurality of first electrodes and a first one of said components associated with a first mold cavity;
• a first machine configured to releasably mount one of said first electrodes;
• and
• a first subcell robot configured to retrieve said first component from said first cabinet and to mount said first component to said first machine, and to retrieve said first electrodes from said first cabinet and to transfer said first electrodes, serially, to said first machine;
• a second subcell, including:
• a second cabinet for retrievably storing a plurality of second electrodes and a second one of said components associated with a second mold cavity;
• a second machine configured to releasably mount one of said second electrodes relative to said second component such that said second component may be machined by said one of second electrodes;
• and
• a second subcell robot configured to retrieve said second component from said second cabinet and to mount said second component to said second machine, and to retrieve said second electrodes from said second cabinet and to transfer said second electrodes, serially, to said second machine;
• a track positioned proximate said first and said second subcells;
• a master cabinet configured to retrievably store said first component, said second component, said first electrodes, and said second electrodes;
• a master robot configured to move along said track, said master robot being configured to selectively transfer said first component and said first electrodes between said master cabinet and said first cabinet when said master robot is positioned on said track proximate said first subcell, said master robot being further configured to selectively transfer said second component and second electrodes between said master cabinet and said second cabinet when said master robot is positioned on said track proximate said second subcell;
• and
• a master control unit configured to monitor and control the operation of said master robot.