# Machine tending

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Industrial automation process

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**Machine tending** is the automated servicing of industrial machine tools in manufacturing environments. The primary function of a machine-tending system is to load [workpieces](/source/Workpiece) into [CNC machining](/source/CNC_machining) and unload finished parts after processing. In many manufacturing systems, machine-tending systems may also perform related tasks including [inspection](/source/Inspection), [cleaning](/source/Cleaning), [deburring](/source/Deburring), or [packaging](/source/Packaging).

## Robotic Machine Tending

Primarily a resource-planning and control problem within manufacturing systems, robotic machine tending is a coordinated interaction between manufacturing resources, such as [grippers](/source/Robot_end_effector), [fixtures](/source/Fixture_(tool)), and [machine tools](/source/Machine_tools), acting upon workpieces during loading and unloading operations.[1]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Steele, Jay W.; Wysk, Richard A; Ferreira, Joao C. E. (2008). "A resource-oriented tolerance representation scheme for the planning of robotic machine tending operations in automated manufacturing systems". *The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology*. **38** (7–8). [Springer Nature](/source/Springer_Nature): 741–756. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/s00170-007-1118-5](https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs00170-007-1118-5).

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