Industrial robots can benefit virtually all manufacturers, but small and medium enterprises often view robots as too expensive, cumbersome and difficult to program and integrate into existing production, according to Thomas Visti, chief commercial officer and vice president for Universal Robots A/S. The company introduced its low-cost, lightweight and easy-to-program robotic arms to the U.S. market at IMTS 2012.
“Many companies worldwide have invested in UR robots to save manpower, whereas others have used them to boost product quality or productivity,” Visti said. “Sometimes they are used in repetitive tasks to improve working conditions for employees. We see potential in all these applications in the U.S. market.”
Courtesy of Universal Robots
A robot from Universal Robots loads steel workpieces into a CNC lathe at Nymann Teknik, a machine shop in Hobro, Denmark. Below: A UR robotic arm comes with a controller and touch panel.
The UR5 sells for less than $31,000, weighs 40.6 lbs. and has a payload capacity of 11 lbs. The UR10 sells for around $39,000, weighs 63.7 lbs. and has a payload capacity of 22 lbs. Both arms come with a controller and touch panel.
Visti explained that users can graphically program the robot using a touch-sensitive screen with a graphic user interface or with a teach function. Programming the latter way involves manually moving the arm to show the robot the movements it needs to make, which the robot then remembers.
According to the company, a significant benefit is the robot’s ability to operate without safety shielding as long as the end-of-arm tooling isn’t carrying something that can injure a worker, such as a knife. As soon as a worker comes into contact with the robot arm and a force of at least 150 newtons is exerted, the arm automatically stops operating. The 150-newton force is also the arm’s maximum gripping force.
Universal Robots is in the process of creating a network of U.S. distributors, which will often assist with integration tasks, such as providing end-of-arm tooling and mounting.
According to Visti, the company sold 400 arms last year and expects to sell 800 to 1,000 this year, with sales doubling again in 2013. “Many customers are first-time users,” he said. “We’re adding to the market, not taking share.”
For more information about Universal Robots A/S, Odense, Denmark, call +45 89 93 89 89 or visit www.universal-robots.com.
Related Glossary Terms
- computer numerical control ( CNC)
computer numerical control ( CNC)
Microprocessor-based controller dedicated to a machine tool that permits the creation or modification of parts. Programmed numerical control activates the machine’s servos and spindle drives and controls the various machining operations. See DNC, direct numerical control; NC, numerical control.
- lathe
lathe
Turning machine capable of sawing, milling, grinding, gear-cutting, drilling, reaming, boring, threading, facing, chamfering, grooving, knurling, spinning, parting, necking, taper-cutting, and cam- and eccentric-cutting, as well as step- and straight-turning. Comes in a variety of forms, ranging from manual to semiautomatic to fully automatic, with major types being engine lathes, turning and contouring lathes, turret lathes and numerical-control lathes. The engine lathe consists of a headstock and spindle, tailstock, bed, carriage (complete with apron) and cross slides. Features include gear- (speed) and feed-selector levers, toolpost, compound rest, lead screw and reversing lead screw, threading dial and rapid-traverse lever. Special lathe types include through-the-spindle, camshaft and crankshaft, brake drum and rotor, spinning and gun-barrel machines. Toolroom and bench lathes are used for precision work; the former for tool-and-die work and similar tasks, the latter for small workpieces (instruments, watches), normally without a power feed. Models are typically designated according to their “swing,” or the largest-diameter workpiece that can be rotated; bed length, or the distance between centers; and horsepower generated. See turning machine.
- payload ( workload)
payload ( workload)
Maximum load that the robot can handle safely.
Author
Alan holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Including his 20 years at CTE, Alan has more than 30 years of trade journalism experience.
