Posted to News on 19th Mar 2015, 10:40
Lightweight, table-top robot for collaborative working
Since R. A. Rodriguez established its automation operating division, Universal Robots have proved highly popular products in its range. They have allowed the company to engineer cost-effective production systems that allow humans and robots to work collaboratively without the need for safety guarding. To date, two sizes of Universal Robots completed the range but now they are complemented by a new, lightweight table-top version, the UR3.
The compact and virtually noiseless UR3 has a footprint of just 118mm and is the product of 3 years of development. It weighs 11kg but has a payload of 3kg, +/-360-degree rotation on all wrist joints and infinite rotation on the end joint.
These features, it is claimed, make the UR3 the most flexible collaborative robot in its class. It is suitable for applications that require 6-axis capability where size, safety and costs are all critical issues. Power consumption is equally low: 100W using a typical programme.
Central to the design is the inclusion of a patented safety system that makes the IP54 classified UR3 particularly suitable for tasks that require human interaction. Fifteen advanced safety functions are fully adjustable to meet the needs of specific applications.
A wide range of I/O ports are easy to configure either as digital or safety signals and the robot has standard communication protocols for easy integration into the automated environment.
The flexibility of UR3 allows this new addition to assist in a wide range of applications across industry. It is cost-effective for automating single tasks such as gluing or screw-fastening to ensure consistent process quality, but is equally suited to picking, assembling and placing parts on the production line.
Thanks to its compact form and easy programming, the UR3 makes it simple to switch between tasks to meet agile manufacturing needs; programming is via a 12" touchscreen. As a result the total cost of ownership is low and the payback period, fast.
For further information about the compact table-top UR3 robot, go to www.rarodriguez.co.uk.
