Page 12 - MetalForming February 2011

Tech Update
Fourth-Generation Robots Faster and More Flexible Than Ever
ABB Robotics, Auburn Hills, MI, introduces the IRB 2600, the latest model in its medium-capacity range of multipurpose robots, particularly suited for machine-tend- ing applications. The robot fea- tures an optimized, compact design, an ultra-wide working range and a
payload capacity to 20 kg. Features include flexible mount- ing to enable optimized cell designs. Mount the robot on the floor, wall, inverted or on a shelf, helping to reduce floorspace requirements. Featuring a total arm weight of less than 300 kg and reportedly occupying less floor space than other robots in its class, working range is optimized—the arm can easily reach down below its own base, allowing for smaller production cells and fur-
thering the efficient use of valuable manufacturing space.
Path accuracy and positional precision enhance flexibility and allow the IRB 2600
to be both a machine-tending robot and a process-validation robot.
ABB Robotics: 248/391 9000; www.abb.com/robotics
Bay-Area Fabricator Banks on CNC Electric Tube Bender
SF Tube, Hayward, CA, a tube and pipe subcontractor with more than 20 bending machines, has added an all-electric software-controlled tube bender to its arsenal. The machine, from UK manufacturer Unison, allows the company to produce more complex tubular shapes than it can using its hydraulic machines, say company offi- cials. These complex shapes include rotary-draw bent and rollformed curves, performed in a single machining operation—parts that in some cases used to require successive operations on as many as three different machines.
The firm notes one example—a highly styled handrail for buses and trains that it now forms on the Unison machine at a 70-percent labor reduction.
Unison tube benders are distributed in the United States by Horn Machine Tools, Madera CA: 559/431-4131; www.hornmachinetools.com.
New Press Control Enables Higher-Speed CNC Punching
Fanuc FA America, Hoffman Estates, IL, introduces the 30i/31i-P model B high- speed punch-press controls, capable of supporting new levels of punching and nib- bling rates in CNC punch presses. Fanuc CNCs provide up to 8 MB of high-capaci- ty, nonvolatile internal memory available to store as many as 4000 large nested part programs. Slots are provided for ATA or Compact Flash memory cards that can add an additional 2 GB of part-program storage. Any commercially available USB storage device also can be connected to store and transfer large programs. A Fast Data Serv- er can be installed in the CNC providing up to 4 GB of Flash memory and a 100-GBit Ethernet connection. A high-speed, error-immune fiberoptic connection between the
CNC and an integrated PC front-end allows the hard disk be used for part-pro- gram storage.
The Series 30i/31i-P model B CNCs include an embedded Ethernet interface that allows the user to integrate the CNC control into a company network for data col- lection or for high-speed part-program transfers. Worldwide links can be set up via the Internet to enable remote diagno- sis and maintenance. Because the Ethernet interface does not use a public operating system, it is practically hacker-free and immune to viruses.
Fanuc FA America: 888/326-8287;
www.fanucfa.com
A New Era in 3D
Laser Cutting,
Drilling and Welding
Prima North America, Inc. and Laser- dyne Systems, Champlin, MN, introduced the Laserdyne 430 multiaxis laser sys- tem at the recently held Prima Aerodays two-day aerospace workshop in Torino, Italy. The new machine
is a three-
axis sys-
tem for
precision
cutting,
welding
and
drilling 2D
and 3D
components. Also
available is a fourth rotary/circular axis option; coming in 2011 is a fifth tilt axis.
The Laserdyne 430, delivered as a turnkey system with a choice of industrial Nd:YAG, CO2 and fiber lasers, operates at speeds to 800 in./min in the X, Y and Z axes, with bidirectional accuracy of 0.0005 in. throughout the system’s 600 by 400 by 500-mm work envelope. Includ- ed are state-of-the-art software and hard- ware features such as BreakThrough Detection and Laserdyne’s patented Automatic Focus Control.
Laserdyne Systems: 763/433-3700;
www.prima-na.com
10 MetalForming/February 2011
www.metalformingmagazine.com