Together we want to disrupt the status-quo offering Gap-Changing, Next-Generation Equipment that defies common sense
We are going where the market leaders will not go, because they do not want to risk their brand image with explosive Innovations.
We are creating Open Space Manufacturing – No Fixed Equipment – Providing Flexibility – Mobile Manufacturing that allows for change.
L&J Omnico is a SME that wants to make a statement, disrupt the status quo. Statements aren’t made with incremental improvements.
L&J delivers complete solutions including over 1,000 COTS Modular Components for end-users to self-build their own equipment.
Needs flexibility – add mobility to open space and remove walls and boundaries – travel anywhere. L&J Omnico is developing a mobile platform (AGV) – a mobile infrastructure that allows for ancillary equipment to be easily added or removed to provide manufacturing flexibility.
Omnico is focused on next-generation automation, to field-assemble wind blades. Taking manufacturing directly to the wind farm.
Omnico has been working with DoD to develop an extreme large-size mobile robot platform for interrogation and disposing of improvised explosive devices (IED).
Omnico has been developing an extreme large size mobile 3-D printer / additive manufacturing equipment that can self-drive to a work site – print a house, drive off and relocate to print another structure.
This all leads to an ALL-MODULAR system that encourages an eco-system where other manufacturers can develop technology including APPS where the end-user can self-install on site.
L&J builds Custom-All-Modular “LEGO-type” material handling equipment for all of the above companies, providing complete solutions. A total solution includes L&J overhead runway with bridge to attached lift and transfer equipment. L&J has over 1,000 COTS modular components.
2009: Omnico and Michigan State University (MSU) partnered to compete for DoE – ARPA-E Funding.
Omnico’s interest in manufacturing on-site offshore wind turbine blades started in 2007. Our focus was on developing automated manufacturing equipment to assemble modular carbon fiber space-frame wind blades on-site. We had contracted Wetzel Engineering to support our development of a field-assembled all modular wind blade. In 2009, the Department of Energy (DoE) and NREL were seeking new technology proposals – Disruptive changes in energy technology for a new breakthrough blade concept. MAG had the winning proposal.
2009: NREL focus was on current technology and could not understand the benefit of a modular CF space-frame design.
2014: 5 years later Wetzel Blade won a NREL award for breakthrough blade concept, a space frame blade design that is prefabricated and field assembled.
The new approved production tax credit will spur new innovations to automate wind blade construction. L&J Omnico is suggesting modular components that are field-assembled with automated equipment.
We are looking to repurpose our existing technology for wind blade automation.
For the last year Omnico has been designing a mobile 3-D printer for home construction, drive to a location, print a structure, then drive off and relocate to print another structure. The robot we developed is a Rostock Delta style. Many robots of this type can be stacked along the mobile platform length. The robot is a 3 arm x-y-z machine tool that uses an advanced machine controller with g-code programming to fit any application. Add two additional axes to the end effector and create a 5-axis machine. Attachments that can be added:
On-site off-shore wind blade manufacturing
We have a design where we can stack 16 or more robots along the mobile platform length of 200 ft. or longer, this will allow all robots to simultaneously run their own NC program and enter the adjacent robot work envelope to blend surfaces. Each robot can make use of an automatic tool changer to switch tooling to perform other tasks. When all work is complete the mobile platform can self-drive away and relocate for additional work.
2007 one of the Army’s top 10 innovations was the use of a COTS 30 ft. long-reach load arm – interrogator arm kit (IAK) to be mounted to a mine-protected vehicle (MRAP) for the interrogation of improvised explosive devices (IED).
2012 the DoD and Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) were looking to increase the stand-off-distance between an IED threat and the operator assisted vehicle; a new design long-reach arm with increased capacity to interrogate, keeping our soldiers out of the kill-zone was needed.
2012 JIEDDO was also developing a directed energy system (DES) requiring a mobile platform with 40 ft. long-reach arm to carry this device, 1,000 lbs. on a 40 ft. long arm in front of a vehicle moving at 15 mph.
2009 Omnico had just developed a space-frame concept of extreme long length capable of high loading. Our design seemed a perfect fit to create a long stand-off distance between the IED threat and the vehicle-operator.
Omnico’s previous investment in technology could be used to protect our war-fighters. Over 5-year development process starting in 2009, Omnico invested over 2 million dollars. Omnico designed an IAK with a 40 ft. reach arm, lift capacity at end-of-arm 1,000 lb. and ground penetration force 2,000 lb., we mounted the IAK on a sliding carriage which tracks on a 30 ft. runway attached to the side of a military type vehicle. All tests performed well, but, our timing was off – the war was now over and the defense department was out of money.
Omnico’s interest in developing an extremely large size mobile 3-D printer was in 2015. American Makers – Ohio 3-D Printer Technology Center had listed a NASA – funded competition to print a 1,000 Sq. Ft. dwelling suitable for our astronauts to live on Mars. NASA also wanted to support low cost 3-D printed housing. Omnico was already working on a mobile platform of extreme large size for CNC manufacturing using Rostock delta style robots. A 3-D printer is a CNC machine with an extrusion nozzle laying down material.
Professor Behrokh Khoshnevis won an award for best new technology for 2014. NASA is supporting Dr. Khoshnevis and the University, as well as America Makes to 3-D print housing. His website shows use of a gantry-style robot of a large size capable of printing a house. The problem I see that makes this concept not cost effective for mass home construction is the equipment set-up time. There could be two days to prepare the site for the equipment, erect it and level-adjust for printing. One day to print a house and one day to disassemble, then move to another work site and repeat the same operation.
No ground preparation for the mobile platform required. The vehicle can self-level then run a NC program to calibrate the robot. Each robot will simultaneously run its own NC program including entering the adjacent robot work envelope to blend surfaces. Each robot end-effector with attached material extruder nozzle will be tracked with a motion capture system to self-adjust in real time for any deviations in planned NC path. Optics will also self-adjust the material extruder output to match the nozzle speed.
With many material extruders operating simultaneously, the production time is reduced. After printing is completed, the mobile platform can self-drive off the work site and relocate to print another structure.
A mobile 3-D print platform that requires no site preparation – can self-drive to work site – print a structure – self-relocate to another work site – THIS WILL MAKE PRINTED HOUSING AFFORDABLE.