Conveyors for Robotic Training by APT Manufacturing
Conveyors are one of the most common applications of industrial automation. In virtually every manufacturing, logistics, packaging, and distribution facility in the country, parts and products move from one station to the next on conveyor systems controlled by PLCs, monitored by sensors, and integrated with robots. Students who have only programmed a robot to pick and place from a static location have not yet experienced the added complexity that conveyors introduce into a real production environment.
APT Manufacturing's Swivellink conveyor systems are designed specifically to integrate with FANUC robots and expand the automation training possibilities available to educational programs. Outfitted with optical sensors, variable speed drives, and wiring that connects directly to robot and PLC I/O systems, these conveyors give students hands-on experience with one of the most fundamental components of modern automated manufacturing.
Klein Educational supplies APT Manufacturing conveyors to CTE programs, community colleges, and workforce development programs across California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and Alaska. As the authorized distributor for APT Manufacturing solutions in these seven states, we help programs get the right configuration specified and running.
What are APT Manufacturing conveyors?
APT Manufacturing offers Swivellink belt conveyors in two configurations, both sized and designed for educational training environments while using the same industrial-quality components students will encounter in real manufacturing facilities.
The Free Standing Swivellink Variable Speed Conveyor is a 4.5-inch wide, 36-inch long belt conveyor mounted on a free-standing base with adjustable height stands and locking swivel casters for easy repositioning anywhere in a lab or classroom. Adjustable side rails accommodate different part sizes, and hard stops at each end of the conveyor prevent parts from falling off. Two optical sensors are included, one at the idle end and one at the drive end of the conveyor on adjustable mounts, giving students the ability to detect part presence at both ends of the travel path. Sensor cables and motor control forward and reverse connections are terminated in a small junction box for clean, accessible wiring. The system runs on standard 120 VAC power.
The Magnetically Mounted Tabletop Swivellink Variable Speed Conveyor shares the same 4.5-inch wide, 36-inch long belt design but uses switchable magnetic mounts on the conveyor base rather than a free-standing frame, allowing it to be secured to a steel work surface or robot table and repositioned easily without tools. One side rail is fixed and the opposite is adjustable. The same dual optical sensor configuration, junction box wiring termination, and 120 VAC power connection are included. The tabletop height of approximately 6.75 inches off the surface makes it compatible with a wide range of robot work cell configurations.
Both conveyors feature variable speed capability with a conveyor-mounted speed control, allowing students to adjust belt speed and observe the effect on robot timing, sensor triggering, and production throughput in a way that mirrors real process adjustment scenarios in manufacturing.
What students and trainees learn
Adding a conveyor to a FANUC robot training cell significantly expands the range of automation concepts students can explore and the complexity of the programs they write:
Conveyor integration with FANUC robot programs over I/O
Optical sensor wiring, adjustment, and operation
Robot inbound and outbound conveyor control programming
Variable speed drive operation and speed adjustment
Part detection and robot triggering from sensor signals
Conveyor forward and reverse motor control
Line tracking concepts for robot and conveyor synchronization
Optional Cognex vision camera integration for vision-guided picking and inspection
Project-based learning applications in manufacturing, logistics, and packaging contexts
The addition of a conveyor moves students from isolated pick and place programming into genuine production line simulation, where parts arrive at unpredictable timing, the robot must wait for sensor confirmation before acting, and the overall system must coordinate multiple devices working together. That is the environment they will enter in industry.
Integration with APT and FANUC systems
Both conveyor models are designed to integrate directly with FANUC CERT carts, the MTEC, the AM CERT cell, and any other FANUC robot training system. Sensor cables and motor control wiring terminate in a junction box that connects cleanly to robot and PLC I/O systems, and the conveyors are compatible with the optional Cognex camera kit, which qualifies programs for Cognex curriculum and certifications in machine vision applied to conveyor-based inspection and guidance applications.
The conveyors are also a direct pathway to the CSM Connected Smart Manufacturing system, where Swivellink conveyors play a key role in moving parts between robot stations throughout the full production line. Students who have experience with conveyor integration on a FANUC CERT cart or AM CERT cell arrive at the CSM with the foundational knowledge to understand how parts flow through the full line and how each station hands off to the next.
Why conveyor training matters
Conveyors are not an advanced topic in manufacturing automation. They are a baseline. The ability to program a robot to work with a conveyor, respond to sensor signals, and coordinate with other parts of a production line is a fundamental expectation for automation technicians, robotics technicians, and systems integrators across every major manufacturing industry.
Programs that include conveyor integration in their robotics curriculum are giving students a significantly more complete picture of how automated systems actually work, and a more compelling credential when they enter the job market. Employers who see that a candidate has experience with robot and conveyor integration know they are hiring someone who understands the connected nature of modern production, not just an isolated robot workcell.
How Klein Educational supports your program
Klein Educational is more than an equipment supplier. We work with CTE directors, college department heads, and workforce administrators from the first conversation through installation and beyond. That includes needs assessment, equipment specification, lab layout planning, and staff training.
As the authorized distributor for APT Manufacturing solutions in the western US, we have direct access to the full APT conveyor line and support infrastructure, which means faster service and deeper product knowledge than you will find anywhere else in the region.
Frequently asked questions
What conveyor options does APT Manufacturing offer? APT offers two Swivellink conveyor configurations: a free-standing variable speed conveyor on an adjustable height base with locking casters, and a magnetically mounted tabletop version that secures to a steel work surface. Both are 4.5 inches wide by 36 inches long with dual optical sensors, variable speed control, and 120 VAC power.
How do the conveyors integrate with FANUC robots? The conveyors include sensor cables and motor control wiring terminated in a junction box that connects directly to FANUC robot and PLC I/O systems. They are compatible with FANUC CERT carts, the MTEC, and the AM CERT cell, and support both Ethernet IP and discrete I/O connection methods.
Can the conveyors be used with machine vision? Yes. Both conveyor models can be purchased with Cognex cameras as a project-based learning kit, which qualifies programs for Cognex curriculum and certifications in vision-guided picking, inspection, and guidance applications on a conveyor.
Are these conveyors a pathway to the CSM system? Yes. Swivellink conveyors are a core component of the CSM Connected Smart Manufacturing system, where they move parts between robot stations throughout the full production line. Experience with conveyor integration on a FANUC CERT cart or AM CERT cell directly prepares students for the CSM environment.
Who are these conveyors designed for? The conveyors are designed for programs that already have FANUC robots or CERT carts and want to expand their training capability into conveyor integration, sensor-based control, and multi-device automation. They are suitable for high school CTE programs, community colleges, and workforce development centers.
Does Klein Educational help with lab setup and installation? Yes. Klein works with programs from needs assessment through equipment specification, lab layout, installation, and staff training. We guide the entire process so your program is set up correctly from day one.
What states does Klein Educational serve? We serve California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and Alaska as the authorized distributor for APT Manufacturing solutions in these seven states.
Ready to Add Conveyor Integration to Your Robotics Program?
Whether you are expanding an existing FANUC robot lab or building a pathway toward a full connected manufacturing line, our team will help you find the right conveyor configuration for your space, budget, and goals.