Technology

Articulated robot helps ‘first timer’ meet growth demand

Articulated robot helps ‘first timer’ meet growth demand

A first Kawasaki R series articulated robot installed at its Isle of Wight facility has helped marine pump manufacturer Separator Spares International (SSI) meet customer demand that had seen exponential growth, while maintaining its competitiveness in the market. Supplying large ships, SSI has long specialised in the manufacture and supply of spare parts for pumps […]

By March 23, 2015 Read More →
Cartesian handling system configured in just 20 minutes

Cartesian handling system configured in just 20 minutes

Cartesian handling system design has traditionally been a lengthy process, as you painstakingly configured each axis through hours of trawling through component specifications, batted ideas back and forth with suppliers, waited for quotations, and made the inevitable amends when your anticipated dynamics defied the laws of physics. Then of course there was the lengthy wait […]

By March 23, 2015 Read More →
Putting safety first when working with robots

Putting safety first when working with robots

Ensuring worker safety should be the prime consideration in all robot applications, especially when humans and robots may need to share the same workspace. “Robot safety is an issue that transcends the requirements of specific industry sectors or applications,” says Darren Whittall, technical manager at FANUC UK. “In addition to regulatory requirements, there is also […]

By March 20, 2015 Read More →
Robotic hand suits complex manipulation tasks

Robotic hand suits complex manipulation tasks

The Robioss robotics research team based at Poitiers University has developed a new generation of dexterous robotic hand. With 16 joints and 16 actuators, the robotic hand can reproduce complex human movements such as grasping and fine manipulation. Mounted on a Stäubli robot arm and controlled by the B&R Automation PC 910, this robotic hand is […]

By March 19, 2015 Read More →
Universal Robots launches light-weight table-top robot

Universal Robots launches light-weight table-top robot

Universal Robots has created a new, smaller robot for light assembly tasks and automated workbench scenarios. The UR3 takes the concept of the UR5 and UR10 robots which can work next to people without the need for safety guarding, and brings it to the table. Universal Robots asserts that the UR3 is world’s most flexible, […]

By March 18, 2015 Read More →
SMART NJ 650 robot combines strength with reach

SMART NJ 650 robot combines strength with reach

With a payload capability of up to 650kg and a maximum horizontal reach of 2.70m, the SMART NJ 650 robot from Comau has been designed to meet market requirements for robots that can efficiently manipulate components of significant size and weight. Surpassing the capabilities of the previous version, the SMART NJ 650 complete’s Comau’s range […]

By March 13, 2015 Read More →
Schunk expands its team in the North and Midlands

Schunk expands its team in the North and Midlands

To support growth and enhance customer experiences and service, Schunk has expanded its team with the addition of Mark Lister and Steve Hardwidge. Pictured right: Mark Lister is the latest addition to the Schunk team, covering the North East and Scotland Steve will be servicing the needs of customers in the North West whilst Mark […]

By March 12, 2015 Read More →
Robot grippers complement collaborative robot range

Robot grippers complement collaborative robot range

Robot grippers from Robotiq now complete the Universal Robots package available from RA Rodriguez. Known for their ease of configuration, this range of robot grippers now includes the 2-finger 85 which has been specifically designed for collaborative work, in terms of payload, flexibility and user-friendliness. RA Rodriguez says the addition of the robot grippers extends […]

By March 10, 2015 Read More →
Robot safety functions mean homing once is enough

Robot safety functions mean homing once is enough

With SafeMOTION Release 1.9, B&R has updated the robot safety functions for the ACOPOSmulti servo drive family. In addition to two new functions – Remanent Safe Position (RSP) and Safely Limited Acceleration (SLA) – this update also introduces machine options for SafeMOTION parameters and improves both system availability and user-friendliness in applications where robot safety […]

By February 25, 2015 Read More →
New platform for Universal Robots accessories and peripherals

New platform for Universal Robots accessories and peripherals

Need a gripper, effector, accessory or peripheral for your Universal Robot? URCaps is a platform where distributors and integrators can present accessories that run successfully in UR robot applications at end users’ facilities. Universal Robots says that Caps are to robots, what apps are to smartphones: useful accessories, hardware and software extending the capabilities of UR […]

By February 24, 2015 Read More →