03 April 2012
The stand will feature various live demonstrations of ABB’s latest equipment, including ABB’s Flex Finishing package, ideal for programming different tools and adapting to different components on the production line. Traditionally, the way in which a user programs a robot is to first define the path and then its speed. However, if the path and speed set do not match, manufacturers can risk damage to robotic equipment and be left with poor quality or wasted products. To overcome this problem, ABB’s Flex Finishing cell quickly and accurately adapts machining to the surface contour and consistencies of the materials to be processed. This helps manufacturers improve process results and product quality, as well as increasing productivity, reducing programming and cycle times and cutting operating costs. The stand will feature various live demonstrations of the Flex Finishing package and its Force Control (FC) functions; FC Graphical Programming Interface, FC Press and FC Speed Change, all of which expand the scope for using robots in machining operations.Speaking about the Flex Finishing package, Nigel Platt, Sales and Marketing Manager for ABB Robotics UK and Ireland comments: “The Flex Finishing package will be of particular benefit to casting companies, particularly those doing small production runs. The Force Control features reduce the robot programming time by approximately 90 percent.”Visitors to the stand will also get the chance to interact with a working robot, demonstrating how humans and robots can collaborate and work together safely – with no fencing or guarding needed. The demonstration will showcase ABB’s SafeMove and how the robot can ‘see’ it’s environment, eliminating the risk of collision and synchronizing the robot’s movements with the processes and people around it.Integrated in the IRC5 robot controller, SafeMove enables operators and robots to work together without compromising on safety to ensure safe, predictable robot motion. The software offers a host of leading-edge safety functions, such as electronic position switches, safe speed limits, safe standstill positions, safe tool and orientation zones, and an automatic brake test. The software also enables more compact cells as it restricts robot motion to precisely what is needed for the application. SafeMove will be demonstrated on the stand with ABB’s IRB1600 robot, ideal for arc welding, machine tending and material handling applications.Another of the live exhibits on the stand will be an ABB IRB 120 robot, which will demonstrate safety products from Jokab Safety’s (part of the ABB Group) Quick-Guard fencing system. Quick-Guard is a flexible fencing system that is designed to offer improved safety, prevent unauthorised access to cells and reduce noise pollution. It is comprised of a range of components including aluminium profiles, patented brackets, net-locks, mesh and solid or noise reduction panels. With little cost entailed in assembly or modification, the Quick-Guard system offers unlimited design possibilities. Joining these exhibits will be ABB’s motion control business demonstrating solutions for use in a wide range of industrial applications, including labeling, packaging, bottling, pick and place, laser cutting/trimming and stacking. In addition to demonstrating real-time Ethernet motion products, Attendees will be able to see a demonstration of real-time Ethernet motion products, as well as learning how linear motors, registration control and synchronized reciprocal motion uses the Machine Intelligent Programming Language (MINT) FLY programming language. The MINT FLY commands are tailored for motion applications, providing multitasking control of communications, logic, motion and HMIC interaction in a powerful yet simple programming language. For more information on ABB’s robotic technology, call +44 (0) 1908 350 300, visit http://www.abb.co.uk/robotics
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