Page 15 - MetalForming November 2022

Automation
Yaskawa Adds to Lineup of Direct- Teach, Plug-and-Play Cobots
Yaskawa has enhanced its HC-Series lineup of collaborative robots (cobots) with the new six-axis HC10DTP and HC20DTP models. Hand-guided program- ming allows users to direct-teach points without a pendant, and an ISO standard tool flange and electrical connections facilitate a plug-and-play approach for easy deployment. Use the cobots for a variety of applications including assembly, machine tending, material handling, pack- aging and welding. To enable humans to safely work with the cobots, power and force-limiting technology constantly mon- itors force to quickly and safely react to contact, and the units include advanced pinchless geometry. A through-arm Cate- gory 6 Ethernet cable, I/O cable and dual air lines eliminate external utilities while
offering fast, safe and easy setup. Made of cast aluminum, both units are IP67- rated and equipped
for use in damp or splash- prone environ- ments. Model HC10DTP has a 10-kg pay- load capacity, 1379-mm maximum reach, 1200-mm effective reach and ±0.05-mm repeatability. The HC20DTP (shown in the photo) has a 20-kg payload capacity, 1900-mm maximum reach, 1700-mm effective reach and ±0.05-mm repeatability.
Motoman Robotics Division of Yaskawa America, Inc.; www.motoman.com
Five-Axis AP&T SpeedFeeders Automate Tandem Line at Spartanburg Steel
Spartanburg Steel Products Inc., Spar- tanburg, SC, a manufacturer of stamped parts and assemblies for cars, trucks and agricultural machinery, has automated a five-press tandem line to shorten cycle times and increase flexibility. Rather than use conventional industrial robots to automate the line, the firm opted for a solution based on the newest generation of five-axis SpeedFeeders from AP&T North America.
“In total, we installed six SpeedFeeders for blank feeding, transfer of parts between the five presses and unloading,” says Adam Allansson, president of AP&T North America. “As we were doing our work, Spartanburg Steel upgraded the presses in the line and its tool-exchange system. We cooperated closely with other suppliers to ensure the best possible total solution in the shortest possible time.”
Since the fall of 2019, the upgraded five-press tandem line has delivered
according to expectations. It is regularly serviced by AP&T technicians, and new staff at Spartanburg Steel have been trained in operation and safety by AP&T.
“We installed the automation to improve safety on the line,” says Chad Raynes, vice president of business development and engineering at Spartanburg Steel. “This also has resulted in better efficiency at a lower cost. We plan to automate additional lines in the future, specifically a tandem line in 2023.”
AP&T: www.aptgroup.com
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Datanomix and Flexxbotics Partner to Automate Production Monitoring for Universal Robots
Datanomix, Nashua, NH, which provides the Automated Production Intelligence software platform, has announced support for monitoring Universal Robots for real- time visibility into robot performance. By partnering with Flexxbotics, a provider of robotics process-improvement technology, Datanomix extends its automated pro- duction intelligence coverage to Universal Robot cells, helping power lights-out and automated operations.
As part of the technology partnership with Flexxbotics, Datanomix gains access to real-time operational data for Universal Robots from Flexxbotics via its FlexxConnect platform. Advanced utilization and per- formance data for Universal Robots is collected and displayed in the Datanomix platform, offering insights into cobot and CNC-machine cycle time, part counts, run time, and machine/robot status to allow
manufacturers to make better-informed decisions around automating their factory. In addition, FlexxConnect provides cen- tralized and revision-controlled cobot and CNC program-management capabilities, and guided workflows for cobot and CNC operators.
With this initial integration, existing Flexxbotics customers can add Datanomix to their deployments, and similarly, Datanomix customers can add the Flexxbotics management platform to Universal Robot installations. Using Flexxbotics' underlying technology, the Datanomix platform receives performance information directly from Universal Robots, and visualizes it alongside the performance data from the CNC machines that the robots empower. Datanomix: www.datanomix.io
Flexxbotics: www.flexxbotics.com