ABB will be showing its latest developments in robot arms at MACH 2014, Birmingham NEC, 7-11 April.
Highlight of the stand will be the new IRB6700. This is the seventh generation large ABB robot with increased accuracy and speed, as well as the ability to handle payloads up to 235kg, which will be further increased to 300kg as new variants of the arm are added over the next 18 months.
It also delivers improved energy efficiency – a 15% percent reduction in power consumption.
A new feature is the inclusion of Lean ID, an Integrated Dressing (ID) solution, which encloses the most exposed parts of the dress pack into the robot. By ensuring predictable cable movements, the use of Lean ID makes the IRB6700 easier to program and simulate. It also creates a more compact footprint, while lengthening service intervals because there is less wear and tear.
ABB says that adds up to a reduction in the total cost of ownership of around 20%.
A dual act between ABB’s IRB 2600 robot and IRB 140 will be featuring ABB’s MulitMove, through a demonstration of co-ordinated motion control between two robots around a common work object.
MultiMove can control up to four robots from just one IRC5 controller, with a compact drive module added for each additional robot.
This opens up previously unthinkable operations, thanks to the perfect co-ordination of complex motion patterns. With the help of RobotStudio (ABB’s PC off-line programming software), such complex programs can be created at the touch of a button.
The built in second generation of TrueMove and QuickMove substantially improve the path accuracy and cycle time of the IRB 1600 robot.
As well as being able to see the latest technology on offer, visitors to MACH 2014 will be able to try their hand at playing some classic games of skill against a robotic opponent in a special retro games cell. Featuring games of Connect Four and Noughts & Crosses, the cell provides a fun demonstration of the intelligent capabilities of the latest generation of robots.
There is more about robotics for processing stone in the current issue of Natural Stone Specialist.