Igus lets you build your own robot for under £5k

Igus now has a complete bill of materials for its Robolink D robot, which means users can define exactly the number of axes they want and then assemble the robot themselves, providing a highly cost-effective option for robotic automation. The individual robotic joints are available as a construction kit enabling users to build an individual articulated arm with up to six degrees of freedom.

Igus director Rob Dumayne says: “There are many companies who want to introduce robotic automation but don’t want a constrained product. With Robolink D, you can now buy a robot based on the number of degrees of freedom, and then build it yourself.” Further, not only can the robot be easily redeployed from one task to to another, but also completely redefined, with the modular design allowing a high degree of flexibility to be maintained.

The Robolink D components kit comprises articulated joints (consisting of iglidur PRT slewing ring bearings), a worm gear and a plastic housing, that can be optionally equipped with Igus stepper motors and connecting components, as well as limit switches for zero point definition. Designed with the ability to be collaborative or ‘soft, Robolink D gives users the opportunity to easily introduce robotics for repetitive tasks or in applications where robotic movements would enhance productivity.

There are currently three articulated joint sizes – size 20, 30 and 50 – related to the inner diameter of the PRT. In addition to the articulated joints, different connection elements (made of plastic) and connection tubes (made of aluminium) are also available.

Igus doesn’t currently offer a matching control system – although Dumayne hints that a controller is coming as an open source system – but this means that users have complete freedom to select their own control solution, with numerous options available, including stepper motor control cards, PLCs and packages such as Matlab, LabVIEW and ROS.

Robolink D fits the Igus philosophy of ‘low cost automation’, and at under £5,000 it is well below the price of other solutions, meeting the needs not only of universities and schools but also more general automation applications.

Robolink D complements Robolink W, Igus’ wire-driven modular robotics kit. “Until now, the stepper motors were not placed in the robotic joint itself, but instead in a separate drive unit, driven by means of Bowden wires coupled to it,” explains Dumayne. “In order to carry higher loads with better precision, Robolink D is our second concept where the motors are integrated into the joints. The direct drive makes the Robolink D articulated system tougher and more durable than before, opening up more opportunities for lean automation.”

Visit the Igus website for more information about Robolink D.

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