As pert of the “Robotic Show” at the flagship China International Industrial Fair (CIIF) in Shanghai, KUKA ceremonially unveiled the new KR CYTEC nano robot series.

The robots of the new KR CYTEC nano series are streamlined, agile and flexible and have a long reach. These new handling and welding robots are redefining the performance parameters of the low payload category and supplementing the KUKA robot portfolio with payload capacities of six, eight and ten kilograms. Under the slogan “Performance. Reinvented.” KUKA presented the new robots in the world’s largest and fastest growing robot market for the first time. The KR CYTEC nano series celebrated its big premiere at the “Robotics Show” held at the China International Industrial Fair (CIIF) in Shanghai.

Outstanding performance, smooth and sensitive motion characteristics on the path and during positioning: that is what the new class promises in the low payload category. This class consists of two product families – KR CYTEC nano for handling and assembly of small components and KR CYTEC ARC nano as a specialist process robot for welding. Both families are available in different payload variants: the KR CYTEC nano with 6, 8 and 10 kg payload capacity with a reach of 1820, 1620 and 1420 mm respectively and the KR CYTEC ARC nano with 6 and 8 kg payload capacity with a reach of 1820 and 1620 or 1420 mm. The portfolio of KUKA robots has thus been ideally supplemented: while the handing expert, KR AGILUS, performs convincingly with its high speed and outstanding precision in confined spaces, the robots of the KR CYTEC nano series offer a longer reach and intelligent welding capabilities.

A growing relationship with Italian automotive supplier Faustinelli s.r.l. leads to a new service agreement and a robot package with Integrated Vision, providing key advantages such as more flexibility, faster setup time and easier handling. Mild weather and well-drained soil makes the northern Italian region surrounding the city of Rovato perfect for cultivating grapes and winemaking. In this area companies ranging from small- to medium-sized are mostly involved in the food and beverage and engineering industries. With its workforce of 30 employees, Faustinelli fits the area well, specializing in precision machining of mechanical parts for water pumps and steering produced for the automotive industry.

The company’s relationship with ABB Robotics harkens back to 2010-2012 when two robotized cells were equipped with an IRB 1600 and an IRB 2600 for picking and placing of machining tools. Shortly thereafter, a Robot Care service agreement was signed with ABB Robotics. In 2014, pleased with the service of the Italian Service Team, Faustinelli ordered two reconditioned robots: an IRB 1400 and an IRB 1600 with Integrated Vision. Impressed with the resulting added flexibility and lower setup time, yet another reconditioned IRB 1600 with Integrated Vision was ordered at year’s end.

“Integrated Vision ensures full flexibility,” says Dr. Diego Scarsi, Managing Director, Faustinelli s.r.l. “Just one click, and the robot park can start again with a new part.”

Faustinelli’s Chief Technologist Stefano Zani adds that the new feature has dramatically shortened system setup time. “Integrated Vision lets me create a new job 50% faster than before. Being integrated with RobotStudio, I no longer need to use two programs to setup a new robot operation. Thanks to ABB’s advanced algorithms, no special measures and/or corrections are needed when creating the job. Everything is designed to be quick, easy and efficient, which translates into increased quality and productivity.”

From humble beginnings with just one Robot Care service agreement to a full-fledged product and service package, ABB Robotics’ relationship with Faustinelli highlights how service is truly scalable—and hints at a strong relationship into the future.

Summary of service agreement benefits:
Peace of mind with ABB keeping the robots running
High productivity
Fewer unplanned stops
Longer life due to world-class maintenance
Fixed costs

Summary of Integrated Vision benefits:
Increased flexibility
Shortened setup time
Ease of use while integrated with RobotStudio

(Photo: ABB)

Motoman’s latest launches in the robotic spot welding market include ES-series ‘Expert Spot’ robots with an integrated spot harness.  With spot utilities (power, water, air, motor and signal lines) integrated into the profile of the robot arm, automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers realize increased flexibility and higher uptime.  Motoman’s patented multiple robot control technology allows close interaction of several arms working on a car body without fear of collision.

Motoman’s latest innovation is the 7-axis VS50 spot welding robot.  Designed to take full advantage of proven Direct Current (DC) weld timers and servo controlled actuators, Motoman is introducing a series of light weight ‘mini-guns’.  These powerful, compact spot guns weigh less than 50 kg, but deliver high performance with 600 kgf clamping pressure and 15,000 Amps of welding current.  The low profile and ‘elbow’ on the VS50 robot allow it to be positioned close to the vehicle.  It can reach underneath or inside confined spaces.

The 6-axis MS80 robot complements the 7-axis VS50 arm and has a slim profile and longer reach for windshields and pillars.  These smaller, faster spot welding robots are designed to be used with full-size ES165D/ES200D model with larger guns to maximize robot density in a welding station.  This ‘high-density’ approach reduces takt time and shortens the production line with fewer re-spot stations.

Higher speed and greater capacity for large-scale press lines.

With the launch of its second generation of roboSpeed single-arm feeders, Güdel makes the automation of industrial-scale press lines even more efficient. Used in conjunction with the intelligent GMotion control system, it increases production capacity, reduces the time spent on setting up the machinery and simplifies jig making.

The press lines have a capacity of twenty-one parts per minute. “This makes the roboSpeed the transfer system of the future for our customers. It is a very robust and compact machine that provides great flexibility in the tool room and meets every demand with regard to ease of operation”, explains Kurt Haldi, General Sales Manager for Press Automation.

The roboSpeed is used for loading the first press, unloading the last press and handling the transfer of parts from one press to another. Because the roboSpeed is particularly compact, it exploits the confined spaces of the tool room to the full. The machine is very user-friendly and designed for payloads of up to 100 kg.

At an in-house exhibition earlier this year, Güdel demonstrated the roboSpeed to a hand-picked selection of representatives from various renowned car makers and press manufacturers from Europe and Asia. Because the new transfer system was so well received, Güdel will be presenting roboSpeed to a global clientele at Euroblech, the sheet metal working exhibition, which will be held from 21st to 25th October in Hanover.

Apart from the automation of parts transfers between the presses, Güdel is also highly proficient in the other associated sub-processes and provides customised solutions for every part of the production process – from the destacking of blanks, via the press linking, through to the removal and final stacking of the finished parts.

Sleek, strong and fast, the new 6-axis MA2010 arc welding robot features a 10 kg payload, up from 3 kg on the previous MA1900 model. Additionally, compared to the MA1900, the new MA2010 features a 23% larger wrist hole for utilities and has a 6% longer reach. The MA2010 robot is introduced with the DX200 robot controller which is more energy efficient and designed for improved maintainability.

The MA2010 features a new contoured arm structure that reduces interference by enlarging the close-range motion area of the robot, making it optimal for welding large workpieces and reaching over jigs. Its hollow upper arm maintains the optimum bend radius of the welding torch cable, maximizing weld performance. Additionally, the T-axis can rotate the torch ±210 degrees without cable interference. Available in floor-, wall- or ceiling-mounted configurations for workcell flexibility and ideal for agriculture and construction machinery parts due to its longer reach.

The MA2010 robot has a 2,010 mm horizontal reach, 3,649 mm vertical reach and ±0.08 mm repeatability. Its integrated through-the-arm torch cabling eliminates cable interference, simplifies programming and reduces cable wear. The enlarged 50 mm thru-hole can allow signal cables for sensors, higher current cables and water-cooling lines. The higher payload allows motorized torches and cameras to be mounted on the wrist for welding applications. Additionally, a material handling version of the robot with a 24 kg payload is available (MH24).

The MA2010 robot uses the Yaskawa Motoman DX200 controller that features patented multiple robot control technology to easily handle multiple tasks and control up to eight robots (72 axes), I/O devices and communication protocols. Its extensive I/O suite includes integral PLC and HMI pendant displays, high-speed Ethernet communication, 4,096 I/O addresses and a graphical ladder editor that can provide system level control. The DX200 has been designed to improve process capability, reduce energy usage and improve maintainability and safety. An enhanced Functional Safety Unit (FSU) provides control reliable zone and tool position monitoring, stand still monitoring and speed limiting. This can reduce costs for safeguarding hardware and provides new capabilities such as collaborative tasks. It is compliant to ANSI/RIA R15.06-2012 and other relevant ISO and CSA safety standards.