Axton Station — IMTS Readiness

Working MVP: station software · hardware · smart carousel storage — target IMTS, Sept 14–19, 2026, McCormick Place, Chicago
Days to show open
Show opens Mon Sept 14
Carousel assembly
Target: mid-August
Drive-train BOM
$2,271
est. · 5 of 8 lines ready to buy
Demo contingency
Single-tray pick & place
if carousel isn't fully functional

Road to IMTS

Workstreams · as of Jul 27 — ask Claude to refresh this section

Station software

● On track
  • 8-step guided program wizard (program in ~5 min)
  • Auto shelf scan — picks misaligned parts, rescan recovery
  • Torque-guarded motion + edge-case handling
  • AprilTag door verification; CNC screen-status monitoring
  • Mini teach pendant (one-hand jog / speed / gripper)
  • Full-cycle reliability pass in booth-like conditions
Live demo ran end-to-end for igus + Devonics on Jul 20.

Carousel — smart storage (60504)

● Watch
  • Mechanical design complete (load cases checked)
  • Order drive-train parts — USA Roller Chain + NitroChain
  • Resolve sprocket bore conflict before ordering (see blockers)
  • Assemble by mid-August
  • Integrate with station software (logic already in main software)
BOM est. $2,270.60 · 5/8 line items ready to buy, 3 to confirm.

Booth / demo cell

● Due now
  • Complete cell design → Jan @ igus (agreed: Mon Jul 27)
  • Door mockup — real machine doors on aluminum extrusion rail
  • Robot on pedestal with gripper (static, low risk)
  • Parts to fill all carousel trays (~3 per tray)
  • Plan early arrival for on-site shakedown
Scope per Joe: carousel (even one tray) + robot on pedestal + doors.

Blockers & open questions

Blocker 80B17 sprocket bore conflict — stock part ships with 1.000″ bore, larger than the Ø25 mm H7 drawing spec; can't be machined to size. Resolve (redesign bore / bush it / Tsubaki pilot-bore quote) before Order 1.
Pending NitroChain RFQ (sent 7/22) — factory-built ready-to-install attachment chain loops; if quoted well, replaces self-assembly lines.
Confirm Attachment chain quantities — per-side counts and extended-pin link spacing/orientation need ME confirmation (D-1 vs D-3 links).
Decide Cell design deliverable — full floor plan, customer walk-through, and space fit for the igus booth; Jan wants it before committing floor space.

Live task tracker

MVP tasks — team sheet
Loading tasks…
Live source: MVP timeline sheet (Google Sheets) · refreshes every 60 s