PowerCube delivers powerful robot building block concept for machine builders

Citation

(1999), "PowerCube delivers powerful robot building block concept for machine builders", Industrial Robot, Vol. 26 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.1999.04926aaf.008

PowerCube delivers powerful robot building block concept for machine builders

PowerCube™ delivers powerful robot building block concept for machine builders

Keyword Robots

Camtec has introduced the PowerCube™ family of intelligent drives for building special purpose machines addressing all kinds of automated handling, measurement and test applications (see Plate 6).

Plate 6 Typical SCARA robot made from PowerCube™ modules

PowerCubes™ come in three basic sizes and power ratings: system 70 is based on a 70mm cube construction with 125W drive servo motor; system 90 is based on 90mm cube construction with 250W servo motor; and system 110 boasts a 500W servo motor in a 110mm cube housing (see Plate 7).

Plate 7 PowerCube™ smart motors

Each size system comprises five modules offering different functions: a rotary module, linear module, wrist unit (two degrees of freedom), gripper module and a basic smart motor, which is an intelligent gearless servo motor drive unit. Modules can be assembled in any combination, using precision coupling elements in standard or custom sizes.

PowerCube's™ unique cube construction provides machine builders with a simple standardised, robust mechanical interface when using these modules to build automation systems. The electronic and electrical interface is just as easy to use, featuring CANbus, ProfiBus and RS-232/485 control interface options, with a 24V DC power supply (48V for system 110). Software libraries, and a Windows-based teaching software package called QuickStep, provide flexible methods of developing the control software for any application, or for any experimentation that might be needed in R&D projects.

PowerCube™ intelligent motion controllers provide just the control electronics, digital interface and servo amplifier ready for the user to fit his own AC servo motor with power rating in the range 125-500W.

These controllers are fully integrated with power servo amplifiers, servo controller with 40kHz sampling rate, and 16-bit CPU for digital motion control of position, speed and torque. There is also an analogue +/- 10V control input for setting rpm. The built-in CPU can calculate real-time speed profiles, including acceleration and deceleration ramps, based on a given final position, speed and acceleration.

There are also inputs for two final position switches and reference point switches.

Controllers and Smart Motors are interfaced to PCs and other industrial controllers through RS-232/485, Profibus or CANBus field bus communications. A library of software functions for control is available in the form of a DLL suitable for Visual Basic, Visual C++, and other programming language variants.

PowerCube™ Studio software, which is a highly useful pre-application design tool, completes the software offering.

Each module is fully integrated with power servo amplifiers, servo controller with 40kHz sampling rate, 16-bit CPU for digital motion control of position, speed and torque, and compact Harmonic Drive™ reduction gearing.

For further information contact: Martin George, Managing Director, Camtec Automation (UK) Ltd, Longlands House, Windermere, UK LA23 3AS. Tel: +44 (0)1539 446566 Fax: +44 (0)1539 446533.