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Vibrotec - feeding system | 4 sizes

Vibrotec AG

igus robolink - pick & place in a three-shift operation

Pick & Place-Roboter im 3-Schichtbetrieb

易格斯robolink - 三班倒执行拾放任务

igus robolink - 3교대 작업에 사용되는 픽 앤 플레이스

igus robolink - pick & place in een drieploegendienst

igus 機器手臂robolink - 在三班操作中拾放零件

Handhabung

Material handling

Manuseio de materiais

Przeładunek materiałów

Manipulación de materiales

倉儲物流

物料搬运

Materiaal handling

ระบบจัดการสินค้า

물류 산업

Movimentazione dei materiali

マテリアルハンドリング

Manipulation

material-handling

Malzeme taşıma

Pick & Place

Pick-and-Place

拾取&放置

픽 앤 플레이스

ピック&プレース

Pick &amp: Place

取放 (揀選 & 放置)

Pick and place

หยิบและวาง

pick-n-place

Al ve yerleştir

Spritzguss

Injection molding

注塑成型

injection-molding

Medium-sized industrial companies are confronted with high automation pressure. Robotics does not have to be expensive. A pick-and-place robot that paid for itself in record time shows how to get started cost-effectively and at low risk.

Automation with low-cost robotics helps industrial companies increase productivity and achieve consistent product quality. This is demonstrated by an injection molding system for bearing caps at the Cologne-based company igus. Whereas employees used to have to insert the plastic spherical caps into the machine by hand, this task is now performed by robolink - a robotic arm with four degrees of freedom and a reach of 510 millimeters. The arm picks up the calottes with a gripper and places them in the machine, with a repeatability of 0.5 millimeters and at a speed of 0.25 m/s. After overmolding with fiberglass-reinforced plastic and automatic ejection of the component, the process starts again. 250,000 times per year and in three-shift operation.

"With manual monotonous work in industry, there is a risk of employees becoming tired and product quality suffering due to operating errors. With the help of the introduction of low-cost robotics, we have succeeded in relieving employees and further increasing product quality," says Norman Franke, Head of Automation Injection Molding at igus. "In addition, the productivity of the injection molding machine has increased because the system continues to run even when employees are on break."

Low Cost Robotic: Investment pays off after approx. four months

The advance of robots does not have to be expensive. Quite the opposite. In this case, it is so inexpensive that even small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can experiment with automation and jump on the Industry 4.0 bandwagon. For example, a robolink costs from 2,766 euros - hardly more than a powerful home computer and many times less than comparable robot arms, which cost tens of thousands of euros. The reason for the price is that many components of the robotic arm, such as the gearbox, are not made of metal but of triboplastics. The controller from Commonplace Robotics costs 1,897 euros, and a parallel gripper from Schunk costs around 100 euros. "The bottom line is that investing in such a low-cost robotic solution is low-risk," Franke says. "We achieved the return on investment in about four months."

For industrial companies, the pressure to automate is becoming stronger

According to the online portal Statista, manufacturers sold 381,000 industrial robots worldwide in 2017 - for handling, assembling and processing workpieces. By 2021, this figure is expected to reach 630,000. The benefits of advancing automation are enormous: With their help, industry could generate additional value added of 1.25 trillion euros in 2025, predicts the Federation of German Industries (BDI). Not only because companies will become more productive, but also more flexible and individual. The key words are Industry 4.0 and batch size one.

The problem is that while sectors such as the automotive and aerospace industries are increasingly benefiting from automation and networking, many SMEs are reluctant to do so. Not only for cost reasons. It's also because of the complex interplay of components from different manufacturers - including mechatronics, control systems and software. In addition, acceptance among employees is often low because they fear job losses.

Leading robotics manufacturers united in one kit

Removing these obstacles is one of the goals of RBTX - a marketplace for low-cost robotics that unites manufacturers of robotics components in a construction kit. The electro-mechanical basic framework is formed by robots from igus, among others - including jointed-arm robots, delta robots and Cartesian robots. This basis can be expanded with individual components from various manufacturers, such as grippers, cameras, interactive software, power electronics, motors, sensors and controllers. Customers can put together a robot solution with just a few clicks. Compatibility is guaranteed, explains Franke: "Companies enjoy investment security because we have assembled all the components in various combinations and tested them in detail."

The low-cost robotic solution used in the injection molding machine from igus enjoys acceptance among employees. Because it was clear from the start: The transformation optimizes the production process, but does not lead to job losses. Because employees who previously had to struggle with monotonous tasks took part in a training course. They learned how to operate the robotic arm and even teach it new movement sequences. A three-day training course was all it took. "The control system from Commonplace Robotics was originally educational software and is child's play to operate - without any programming knowledge," Franke emphasizes. "The employees are enthusiastic about the technology because it not only simplifies the work, but also makes it fun."

Low maintenance and quick repairs: robolink ensures cost-effective operation

The automation of the injection molding system was not only cost-effective to purchase, but is also cost-effective to operate. This is because the robolink robot arm is made of tribopolymers, which enable dry running without lubricants. Accordingly, there are no costs for materials and maintenance. And repairs are also comparatively simple. To help technicians help themselves, repair instructions are documented on the Internet. In addition, RBTX offers spare parts supply within 24 hours. Franke: "It has actually never been easier to get into automation."

Produktion

Manufacturing

Production

製造業

Fabricação

Productie

Produkcja

การผลิต

制造业

제조

Produzione

manufacturing

Üretim

Handling Etikett

Gluing

접착

涂胶

膠合

Kleben

接着

Lijmen

Klejenie

Collage

gluing

总览

 at the customer's site. This advanced solution is used in combination with a 

 to efficiently label plastic containers.

The igus gantry system provides a flexible and reliable motion platform, while the apiro rotary axis adds rotational capabilities for optimal positioning of the containers during the labeling process. The cab label printer ensures high print quality and speed, leading to increased productivity.

Watch this video to see how this innovative combination of igus technology and cab printing technology revolutionizes the labeling process, ensuring smooth and efficient production.

Logistik

Logistics

Logistiek

物流設備

物流

Logística

물류 시스템

Logistique

Logistyka

搬送装置

logistics

Automated labeling with igus room gantry and a cab label printer

Gluing simulation with a collaborative robot

Customer Tests

Testen door klanten

Tests clients

Müşteri Testleri

客户测试

Tes Pelanggan

Testes de clientes

Testy klienta

การทดสอบของลูกค้า

客戶測試

Kundentests

Test dei clienti

customer-tests

Dispensieren

Dispensing

分发

Distributeur

點膠

ディスペンサー

분배/디스펜서

dispensing

In a customer test in the igus Customer Testing Area (CTA), a gluing process was simulated using a Dobot CRA5 robot. Instead of using a syringe and adhesive, the test involved tracing the contour only. This simulation demonstrates the precise motion control and repeatability of the Dobot CRA5. The robot follows the specified contour exactly, showcasing its potential use in real gluing applications to achieve consistent and accurate results. This type of simulation is particularly useful for testing and optimizing the robot’s capabilities before applying actual adhesive in practical scenarios.

Gluing application with collaborative robot

Automated quality control with igus ReBeL

Automatisierte Qualitätskontrolle mit dem igus ReBeL

Quality Control

Quality control

质量控制

Kontrola jakości

品質管制

Kwaliteitscontrole

品質管理

Control de calidad

품질 관리

Contrôle qualité

quality

In this customer application, a traditional task from the functional and quality inspection domain has been automated using a collaborative robot. Previously, this task required a dedicated worker. Thanks to the deployment of the cobot, this worker can now be assigned to more complex and value-added tasks. The cobot takes over the repetitive and monotonous inspection processes with high precision and reliability. The investment in the cobot was relatively low and paid off completely within a few months, leading to significant cost savings and increased operational efficiency. Additionally, the cobot improves working conditions by relieving employees from tedious tasks, allowing them to develop further and take on more demanding responsibilities.

Automated quality inspection of facets

Automatisierte Qualitätsprüfung von Wasserhähnen

Vision supported Pick and Place application with igus room gantry

Kameraunterstützte Pick and Place Anwendung mit igus Raumportal

In this application, a pick-and-place solution was tested for a customer using an igus linear robot, a camera, and a conveyor belt. The individual components had to communicate seamlessly to ensure the metal part could be reliably picked up from the conveyor belt and accurately sorted. The integration of the camera for detecting and positioning the metal part, along with the precise control of the linear robot, played a crucial role in ensuring the system’s high reliability and efficiency.

Automated loading and unloading of a laser engraving machine

Automatisierte Be- und Entladung einer Lasergravur Maschine

Scanner

스캐너

Skaner

掃描器

扫描

เครื่องสแกน

スキャナー

scanner

Tarayıcı

Bestückung

Machine tending

Obsługa maszyn

Mantenimiento de máquinas

機械加工

Machine bedienen

机器操作

기계 관리

機器維護

Équipement

machine-tending

In this specific customer application, a cost-effective solution for loading and unloading a laser engraving machine was sought and successfully implemented. The igus ReBeL robot takes on the task of picking up the parts to be engraved and precisely placing them into the machine. Subsequently, a linear system equipped with a laser engraving head carries out the engraving process. Once the engraving is complete, the robot removes the processed part from the machine and places it for further processing or packaging.

Thanks to the low cost of the cobot, the investment in this automated solution pays off in a very short time, making it particularly attractive for companies looking to reduce their production costs while simultaneously increasing efficiency.

Automated handling of snail shells

Automatisiertes Handling von Schneckenhäusern

In this particular customer application, the task was to transport snail shells to various positions within a cycle time defined by the customer. The main challenge was selecting an appropriate end effector, as the snail shells needed to remain undamaged throughout the process.

After careful consideration and analysis of the requirements, the decision was made to use a SoftGripper. This type of gripper is characterized by its flexibility and adaptability, allowing it to conform to the shape of the delicate snail shells. This not only ensures safe transportation but also minimizes the risk of damage.

The choice of the SoftGripper was crucial for the success of the application, as conventional grippers, due to their rigid structure, would not have been able to handle the fragile snail shells without causing damage. By using the SoftGripper, the required cycle time could be met while preserving the integrity of the snail shells.

Vibrotec AG

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