All-electric robot moulder cell takes safe integration to a leaner level

Citation

(2012), "All-electric robot moulder cell takes safe integration to a leaner level", Industrial Robot, Vol. 39 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2012.04939caa.004

All-electric robot moulder cell takes safe integration to a leaner level

Article Type: New products From: Industrial Robot: An International Journal, Volume 39, Issue 3

Injection moulding automation specialist, Hi-Tech Automation, demonstrated how multi-tasking robots can be effectively and safely deployed for lean moulding operations at the Interplas exhibition.

A 150 ton FANUC ROBOSHOT moulding machine (Figure 7) was integrated with two robots – one robot, a side arm unit, were deployed separately from the other, a FANUC Robotics M-10ia. Carrying out post-moulding operations, the six axes M-10ia robot demonstrated simultaneously control of two additional axes of the side arm robot which will de-mould an eight impression tool.

Figure 7 150 ton FANUC ROBOSHOT moulding machine

Utilising FANUC Robotics’ Dual Check Safety (DCS) position and speed check software this cell used separate safety circuits. DCS is an option of the FANUC robot’s controller that allows the arm to be restricted to specific zones, and the speed to be closely monitored, effectively safeguarding itself. With less safety hardware required, workcells can be designed to be more compact, simpler and leaner.

In addition to the 150 ton moulder, FANUC ROBOSHOT showed its 100 ton machine which will be producing a polycarbonate pint glass demoulded and placed into to a laser marking machine by a FANUC Robotics M-20ia robot. The glass was then be placed to an out feed conveyor.