A German robot manufacturer has designed highly economical function packages for its industrial robots using some of the latest Festo valve terminal technology. These robots allow plastic injection moulding machines to be lightly and easily equipped and unloaded.
Unlike inflexible linear gantries restricted to Cartesian motions, the new slim Kuka shelf-mounted robots mean no more space limitations due to ceiling height or floor space. Depending on the model, the shelf-mounted robots can hoist weights of 6 to 210 kg. The shelf-mounted robots load film and inserts into the injection moulding machines for back injection and forming.
Compact unit: Kuka shelf-mounted robot with the built-in power supply unit
Up until now, Kuka supplied only the robot and typical optional robot add-ons - the front-end and the power supply required for it were put together by the project engineers themselves. "We now want to offer our customers an economical function package designed for the Kuka robot," explains Marco Plewe, key technology manager for plastics at the robotics firm. "The development of the new Festo CPX/MPA valve terminal is just what we were looking for," says Plewe. When coupled with the vacuum generators Type VADMI, even energy savings become possible.
Directly installed on the robot arm: the power supply unit with the CPX/MPA is light and small, linking the pneumatic and electrical control levels
The CPX/MPA valve terminal is particularly flat and can therefore be housed in very small spaces, and being made of plastic, its minimal weight does not impede the mobility of the arm. In spite of its low construction volume, the terminal offers high performance. Mechanically significant parts and manifold blocks are made from metal, making the modular valves thoroughly sturdy and reliable.
The current bridge between the MPA and the fieldbus level is provided by the CPX terminal with its modular inputs and outputs. The advantages of this connection lie in its openness to all conventional bus systems and customised connection concepts - servicing and diagnostic functions of the CPX terminal included.
The CPX/MPA forms the centrepiece of the compact power supply unit within the function package. The unit as a whole ensures full freedom of movement for the robot. It is available in a choice of versions, for Profibus DP, Interbus S or CAN DeviceNet. The full configuration consists of four VADMI vacuum generators with air economy circuits.
The media/power supply enables flexible connection of pneumatic and electrical control chains to form an individualised automation application. Flexible expansion stages up to a total of four user valves and four vacuum circuits are possible with the compact terminal. Savings in power consumption and in maintenance are achieved by means of vacuum generators with air economy circuits.
These vacuum generators of the VADMI type offer many advantages when compared with solutions based on vacuum pumps, which are situated much further away from the vacuum suction points. The long lines that are often needed with vacuum pumps result in high-pressure losses. Vacuum generators do not incur any maintenance costs either.
For more information contact Joanne Dix, sales and marketing, Festo, +27 (0) 11 971 5560, [email protected]
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