Robotics, controls and CNC work for Middle Tennessee manufacturers.
Black Pearl Automation builds and maintains the systems that keep production moving — robotic cells, control panels, PLC logic, weldments, and machined parts — and the network they all run on. From a single retrofit to a full line. One shop, one point of contact, no finger-pointing between trades.
What we build, program and fix
Automation integration, advanced robotics, precision welding, and custom fabrication — from control panel construction through robotic system deployment, backed by emergency maintenance when you need it.
Robotics
FANUC and Universal Robots integration — new cells, upgrades, tooling, and programming for assembly, material handling, and quality control.
Learn morePLC Programming
Clean, documented ladder logic and structured text on Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, GE, FANUC, Mitsubishi, and Omron, plus HMI and SCADA integration.
Learn morePanel Building
Custom control panels built to print or designed from scratch — properly laid out, properly labeled, and built to pass inspection.
Learn moreWelding
MIG, TIG, and robotic welding for frames, guarding, fixtures, and structural work, plus on-site repair when something breaks mid-shift.
Learn moreCNC Fabrication
Multi-axis milling and turning from one-off prototypes through production runs, in aluminum, stainless, titanium, plastics, and composites.
Learn moreEmergency & Contract Maintenance
Fast response when a line goes down, plus scheduled preventive maintenance contracts built around your production calendar.
Learn moreManaged IT & Networks
Design, installation, and flat-rate monthly management of the plant-floor and office network — WiFi, switching, cameras, door access, and phones. Plans from $99/month.
Learn moreWebsites & Social Media
Websites, instant-quote tools, blog and social media posting, and lobby display boards, built and kept running by the same shop.
Learn moreTools we built because we needed them
Software that came out of our own service calls, now available for your machines.
PLC Monitor
An AI tool that reads your Allen-Bradley Logix PLC, warns you before a fault, and tells you in plain English why the line stopped.
See it catch a faultURCaps
BP Draw turns a UR cobot into a booth attraction. Custom URCaps give operators one simple screen and link the robot to your PLC.
Watch the robot drawNew: the Long Conversations upgrade lets your team talk through weeks of history with a machine.
See Long Conversations →Real work, not stock photos
One shop that owns the whole problem
Most plant projects stall in the gaps between vendors. The robot integrator waits on the panel shop. The panel shop waits on the fabricator. The controls contractor says the mechanical work is out of scope, and three weeks disappear while everyone is technically right.
We do all of it. The same team that programs the PLC builds the panel, welds the guarding, machines the tooling, and commissions the cell. When something needs adjusting at two in the morning, you call one number, and whoever picks up or calls you back already knows your equipment.
That matters most on the work nobody plans for — the failed drive, the crashed robot, the fixture that has to exist by Monday.
FANUC authorized
A FANUC Authorized System Integrator, with day-to-day work across Universal Robots, Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, GE, Mitsubishi and Omron.
Insured and registered
Insured, ITAR registered, and a FANUC Authorized System Integrator, so procurement and plant safety both get what they need before we set foot on the floor.
Scalable
A single robot install or a full production line. The same process, documentation, and support either way.
Support that continues
Maintenance contracts, operator training, and system upgrades — because the install is the beginning of the relationship, not the end of it.
From first walkthrough to running production
A defined process with a real number attached, so you are not discovering the budget one change order at a time.
Scope it
We walk the floor, watch the process run, and get specific about what "done" means before anyone quotes anything.
Design & quote
Concept, equipment list, and a fixed price. You see what you are buying and why it costs what it costs.
Build & integrate
Panels built, logic written, tooling machined, cell assembled — as much as possible off-site to protect your uptime.
Commission & support
Runoff, operator training, documentation you actually own, and a maintenance plan if you want one.
Latest from the shop
Plain-English answers to the questions customers actually ask.
Reshoring in Middle Tennessee: What It Means for Your Supply Chain
What the new plants and hiring around Middle Tennessee mean for where you source parts.
Read the post Oct 1, 2026Fixturing That Cuts Cycle Time: What a Faster Setup Actually Buys You
Why better fixturing often saves more time than a faster cut.
Read the post Sep 28, 2026Robotic Welding vs. Machine Tending: What’s the Real ROI for a Small Shop?
What a robot cell really costs, what it saves, and how to work out payback with your own numbers.
Read the post Sep 27, 2026What AS9100 and ITAR Registration Actually Mean When You’re Choosing a Machine Shop
The acronyms at the bottom of every shop’s website, explained in plain English.
Read the postCommon questions
What does Black Pearl Automation do?
We are an industrial automation shop. We integrate FANUC and Universal Robots, program PLCs (Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, GE, FANUC, Mitsubishi and Omron), build control panels, weld, and do CNC machining and fabrication. We also handle emergency repair and maintenance contracts. See all services.
What area do you cover?
We are based in Lascassas, Tennessee and work across Middle Tennessee: Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne, Lascassas, Christiana, Eagleville, Rockvale, Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Nolensville, Spring Hill, Columbia, Mt. Juliet, Lebanon, Hendersonville, Gallatin, Shelbyville, Manchester, Tullahoma, McMinnville, Woodbury, Cookeville, and the rest of Middle Tennessee.
What if a line goes down?
Call (615) 439-5260 Monday to Saturday, 7am to 6pm. If we miss you, we call you back. For planned upkeep, ask about maintenance contracts.
How do I get a quote?
Quotes are free. Send your drawings and details through the RFQ form and we respond within 24–48 business hours. Do not upload export-controlled (ITAR/EAR) drawings through the website; call or email first.
What credentials do you hold?
We are insured and ITAR registered, operate under AS9100 Rev D quality standards, and are a FANUC Authorized System Integrator. The owner, John Leyhew, is CMSE certified (Certified Machinery Safety Expert).
What are your hours?
The shop and phones are open Monday to Saturday, 7am to 6pm. If we miss your call, we call you back.
Tell us what needs to run better.
Free quotes and consultations. Send drawings if you have them, or just describe what is going wrong — we will tell you straight whether it is something we can help with.