Latest 7-axis robot loads/unloads VMC

Motoman introduced its latest 7-axis machine tending robot at the recent MACH 2008 exhibition and occupies very little area to tend a vertical machining centre.

Motoman demonstrated its IA20 7-axis robot at the UK's recent MACH 2008 show automatically loading and unloading a Hardinge XV710 vertical machining centre (VMC).

Nicknamed 'the snake' for its ability to access restricted spaces, the IA20 7-axis robot occupied very small footprint to the right of the machine.

The robot's presence extended the VMC's 'footprint' just over 0.5m.

The robot loaded a hydraulic fitting into the first collet of a Hardinge four-station indexing unit.

After the first 4-axis machining operation, the part was transferred to the three other collets for additional operations before being unloaded.

The length of the multi-station indexer meant that the additional reach and positioning flexibility of the snake design was needed to access all four collets of the in-line fixture without unduly increasing the space taken up by the robot.

Capable of manipulating a maximum payload of 20kg, the IA20 stands just 159cm high.

Its patented servo motors and actuators are built into each axis and positioning repeatability is +/-0.1 mm.

Motoman told manufacturingtalk that its NX-100 controller combines powerful processing capability with Windows-based drop-down menus.

The menus are easy to follow and very flexible, making the robot one of the easiest to use in the market, added Motoman.

All menus are displayed on a large colour touch screen and additional user programmable screens are available.

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