Empowered by cutting-edge automation technology
and-place, packaging, and commissioning. The robot
The concepts of the digital twin and the digital shadow are promising approaches
Summary
Automation holds major advantages for process and production engineering in terms of productivity and costs. It is thus a crucial economic factor. Beyond this, however, advanced automation concepts and products are also key to improving the sustainability of industrial processes. From predictive maintenance to the modular factory and human-robot collaboration – this article, along with selected examples, gives an impression of the manifold possibilities.
occupies a footprint of 208 mm x 208 mm, weighs approximately 54 kg, is IP56/67 and ESD-protected (Electrostatic Discharge), as well as suitable for floor, ceiling, wall, and angle mounting. Digital models, materials, and more Beyond the approaches shown here, engineers can leverage further optimization potential by applying sustainable materials, circular economy techniques and the latest developments in the field of digitalization. The aim of circular economy is to avoid waste and residual materials and to recycle and reuse as many raw materials, components, and packaging materials as possible. Its principles can make a decisive contribution to automated plants operating more sustainably.
towards identifying optimization potential without testing on real machines or plants with a high expenditure of resources. Thanks to the comprehensive digital representation of real products, plants or processes - and of their life cycles - maintenance measures can be initiated or correlations established between development, production and all other stages of the value chain. Engineers can thus simulate the behavior, functionality and quality of real objects or processes in detail - and improve their sustainability, for example by eliminating the need for physical prototypes.
Figure 5: KR Agilus in a project at the University of Reutlingen/Germany. Here, students work with industry partners on developing sustainable alternatives to disposable plastic cutlery. (Image source: KUKA Deutschland)
Efficient by precision Small, agile and extremely versatile, with their compact,
highly efficient processes thanks to their very precise and repetitive accurate motion control. For example, they are ideal for minimizing the need for rework in machining processes as well as the level of rejects. The use of such compact and variable assistants also makes sense for small and medium-sized companies as the manufacturer documents in various success stories [4]. These include a university project in which students at the University of Reutlingen/ Germany are researching reusable alternatives to disposable plastic cutlery. They are supported by German injection molding expert
Gindele as well as by KUKA and their system partner Robomotion. All handling around injection molding is covered by a highly flexible robotic cell, the core of which is an Agilus compact robot equipped with a 3D-printed gripper. According to the data sheet, the KUKA Agilus KR6 R900-2 six-axis robot features a maximum reach of 901 mm and a payload of 6.7 kg and it achieves a pose repeatability of ±0.02 mm in accordance with ISO 9283. Possible usage ranges from handling in conjunction with other machines, through test and measurement technology, and the application of adhesives or sealants, to assembly, pick-
lightweight design and intelligent control technology, robots have a significant impact on the sustainable use of production resources. The robust and highly adaptable devices of German manufacturer KUKA's Agilus family are an outstanding example of this (Figure 5). They come with an integrated energy supply and in several variants, some are offered as cleanroom robots, others for hygiene-critical applications or potentially explosive environments. Designed for human-robot collaboration, the robots enable
we get technical
12
13
Powered by FlippingBook