In the home appliances industry, shifting consumer expectations toward aesthetic and modern designs have led to the widespread use of glass materials instead of metal. However, the brittle nature of glass renders traditional mechanical fastening methods (screws or rivets) inadequate; stress concentrations formed on the material threaten structural integrity. Consequently, the industry has turned to adhesive bonding technologies that optimize load distribution. Nevertheless, in manual adhesive application processes, operator-induced physiological tremors and velocity fluctuations degrade sealing quality and result in high scrap rates. This study examines the conversion of the manual glass bonding process in built-in cooker hood production into a semi-automated assembly cell through the integration of a six-axis industrial robot (FANUC M-710iC/70). Within the scope of this research, a hybrid end-effector combining vacuum pads, and a dispenser was designed, and Remote TCP (stationary nozzle, moving part) trajectory planning was implemented to prevent silicone accumulation. Additionally, a human-robot coexistence model was developed, enabling humans and robots to safely share the same workspace. Experimental results demonstrate that robotic automation reduced the cycle time by 37.8 %, increased hourly production capacity by 60 %, and improved the scrap rate by 90 % (from 3.2 % to 0.3 %) compared to the manual process, while achieving a 10 % reduction in silicone consumption and a 10-fold improvement in positioning accuracy. The developed system ensured quality standardization in high-viscosity silicone application and minimized ergonomic risks.
Pirselimoğlu et al. (Mon,) studied this question.