Posted to News on 19th Jun 2007, 21:17
Titan robot has 1000kg payload and 4m reach
KUKA has unveiled the Titan, which is described as the world's largest and strongest six-axis industrial robot. It is specially designed to automate a wide range of heavy-duty manufacturing applications thanks to its huge 1000kg payload capacity.
The Titan, which has secured a place in the Guinness Book of World Records, boasts nine motors that, together, deliver the power of a mid-sized car, while its reach extends to more than 4m at full stretch and its work envelope is an impressive 78 cubic metres. The axes are powered by pairs of motors, with motor equipped with its own gear unit. Titan robots can withstand a static torque of 60,000Nm, which dwarfs the typical 600Nm maximum drive torque of a powerful car.
KUKA has developed the new robot to handle heavy-duty payloads that were only previously possible using at least two robots, or high-cost, less flexible gantry systems. The company says the Titan KR1000 is capable of handling, completely unaided, large and bulky components such as whole car bodies, building materials or huge castings.
Power, speed, reach and precision
Alexander Bay, KUKA's product manager for the Titan, comments: "It was a fascinating challenge to combine power, speed, reach and precision into a single, high-tech, high-performance machine. This project has enabled KUKA to demonstrate fresh proof of its innovative drive and engineering expertise by delivering a unique robot within just over a year, a fast time in development terms."
KUKA was also keen to ensure that the robot was easy to transport and install, so it has been designed to be shipped in a standard container and is equipped with standard mounting plates. The Titan has a weight-to-payload ratio of less than 5 and offers all the benefits associated with other robots in its range. These include modular construction, user-friendly programming and an intuitive control system. Two more variants will be launched early in 2008: the KR1000 L750, which will boast an extended reach of 5m, with the other version designed for use in foundries.
About KUKA Automation + Robotics
KUKA Automation + Robotics describes itself as the UK's leading supplier of high-technology industrial robots and automated production systems. Established for more than 30 years in the UK, KUKA is renowned for its high-quality engineering and value-adding processes.
Believed to be Europe's leading robot manufacturer, with over 85,000 robots in the field, KUKA is many companies' first choice for providing turnkey solutions for a wide variety of automation requirements.
KUKA boasts a vast range of robots that are capable of handling payloads from 3kg up to 1000kg for a huge range of applications, with four-axis Scara to six-axis slim jointed robots. They are used by many well-known names in the UK manufacturing industry in diverse sectors such as aerospace, automotive, construction materials, electronics, food processing, healthcare, logistics and plastics. Typical applications include machine tending, order picking and assembly, packaging, palletising and welding.
KUKA's flexible robots can be mounted on machines, ceilings or linear tracks and can work in even the most challenging environments such as clean rooms, cold stores or foundries. They are supplied with PC-based controllers that offer power and simplicity for easy programming and operation. Automated production systems can incorporate the latest conveyor and vision system technology packages.
KUKA provides a wide variety of engineering services that include 2D and 3D design, robot and system integration, process analysis and cycle time study, as well as on-site technical support, servicing, remote internet diagnosis, technical query telephone helpline and a comprehensive spares facility.
