Robot Offers Compact Solution For Machine Builders

Fanuc Robotics has launched a robot that can be mounted in a variety of orientations without modification and with an unobtrusive exterior for machine load, assembly and inspection applications. The M-10iA/10S is a six-axes, 10kg-payload robot with a hollow arm to completely remove tooling cabling from the work area. The company said the robot provides a compact solution for machine builders and system integrators needing to reduce space requirements. The arm can be mounted in floor, ceiling and angle orientation - for instance, overhead or an inclined plane - to reduce space required for other operations or peripheral equipment.

The robot's hollow arm has integrated fluidics, signal and electrical cabling throughout, reducing the risk of cable snagging and breakages. By routing cables through to the wrist flange, joint six, full tool rotation is maximised without risk, speeding up programming and ensuring longer cable life. Fanuc Robotics said the high speed and inertia of the M-10iA/10S together with its 1,098mm reach make multi-task applications, such as machine load, assembly and inspection, straightforward. The ability of joint three to flip is particularly useful for inverted mount installations to maximise the work envelope.

The wrist is sealed to IP67, making it suitable for more aggressive environments such as waterjet cutting and casting applications. The M-10iA/10S runs with Fanuc Robotics' R-30iA series intelligent controller, an open-architecture system with integrated intelligent functions including vision and force sensing. Where vision is required the R-30iA controller helps reduce integration time and cost with its integrated iRVision system. No additional hardware, other than a camera, is required to integrate vision with the controller. Control of up to 40 multiple axes is available with the R-30iA controller and when used in multi-arm mode one controller can control four arms and four auxiliary axes groups.

Further reducing the additional control hardware common to any installation, the controller has its own Programmable Machine Controller (PMC). The PMC has an integrated monitor that allows the user to monitor the PMC ladder in a graphic display for all levels and sub-programs that reside in the controller.