May 2021

46 n NEW PRODUCTS May 2021 www.drivesncontrols.com Kuka has announced its first delta robot. The parallel kinematic KR Delta robot is aimed at precision pick-and- place tasks. The low-payload (up to 6kg) robot has a stainless-steel body, making it suitable for hygienic applications. It has been designed for low maintenance, with encapsulated gears and ball joints made of a self-lubricating material. The parallel arm robot offers high accuracy, a reach of 1.2m, and a cycle time of 0.5 seconds with a 1kg payload. The IP67- protected machine is temperature- and corrosion- resistant. Its fourth axis has an IP69K rating, and can be cleaned and disinfected using high-pressure systems up to 100kPA. It is TÜV-certified for compliance with the requirements of the US FDA and the German Food and Feed Code. The robot is controlled using Kuka’s KR C5 micro controller and can be switched between different production scenarios, such as seasonal packaging variants. The Kuka.PickControl software supports conveyor tracking and image processing. The Kuka.VisionTech software can be used with a camera to recognise objects, even in unstructured environments, for applications such as sorting and loading. Kuka Robotics UK 0121 505 9970 www.kuka.com/en-gb Micro-Epsilon has announced a range of precision 3D snapshot measurement sensors for automated inline measurement of the geometry, shape and surface quality of objects. The surfaceControl 3D 3500 sensors offer Z-axis resolutions from 1μm, repeatabilities of up to 0.4μm, and the ability to measure over large areas. The sensors operate on the principle of optical triangulation, based on fringe projection, which allows direct 3D measurement of items. A sequence of patterns is projected onto the surface of the target. Light from the patterns is recorded by cameras on either side of the projector and the 3D surface is generated from these images. Previously, 3D images were captured by building up a series of 2D profiles, which meant having to wait for the individual profiles to be captured before creating the 3D point cloud. The new sensors capture the information in one go, resulting in much faster acquisition and processing times. Micro-Epsilon claims that in automated “stop- and-go” production lines, the sensors will outperform any other 3D sensor, particularly in terms of Z-axis resolution, repeatability, measuring area and software development and integration tools. The IP67-protected sensors can detect the slightest of deviations in planarity, for example, or height differences of tiny PCB components. A data processing speed of up to 2.2 million 3D points per second helps to boost productivity. There are two models with different measuring areas and depths of field. Micro-Epsilon 0151 355 6070 www.micro-epsilon.co.uk Stainless-steel delta robot targets hygienic applications High-speed 3D sensor measures shapes and defects rapidly in automated processes Stober has collaborated with Heidenhain to develop a hybrid drive cable that can operate over distances of up to 50mwithout needing additional motor chokes – claimed to be further than other systems – and up to 100m if chokes are used. The OCS (One Cable Solution) is designed for use with Stober’s EZ and EZS synchronous servomotors. Users receive a kit consisting of the motor, cable and drive. An electronic nameplate allows plug-and-play installation, with the motor sending electronic and mechanical data to the drive controller automatically during commissioning. Traditionally, two cables have been used to connect motors to drive controllers: one carrying the encoder data; the other the electrical power. In the OCS, a single hybrid cable does both jobs. It avoids problems such as faulty data transmissions caused by encoders and drives being more than 15m apart. To tackle this, costly output chokes are usually needed for each cable, taking up control cabinet space and requiring cooling. Lab tests in continuous operation have shown that, after five million cycles, the OCS encoder signals can be read and evaluated without errors, even when using 50m-long cables. Conventional cables are said to have failed the tests after far fewer cycles. The system uses Heidenhain’s EQI1131 E30-R2 EnDat 3 encoders. Stober has modified its SC6 and SI6 drive controllers to use the same transceiver chip as the encoders. The motors can be combined with Stober’s gearboxes which attach directly, saving space. Stober 01543 458858 www.stoeber.de/en Rockwell Automation has enhanced its Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 6000T medium-voltage drives, adding its TotalForce technology which provides precise control of speed and torque, diagnostic information for tracking systemhealth, and automatic adjustments to keep operations running smoothly.The drives follow speed or torque commands in open- and closed-loop vector control modes to deliver precise control.They also track the health of components in the drive andmotor, and provide real-time diagnostic information to control systems, helping to predict the need for maintenance before components fail. Adaptive control functions help to isolate potentially harmful vibration and resonances, and compensate for variances.They also reject disturbances when loads change suddenly. www.rockwellautomation.com Aerotech has released a new version of its Automation1 machine control platform that supports Enhanced Throughput Modules (ETMs) and other new drive hardware. By measuring and accounting for unwantedmachine base motions, the ETM improves positioning performance automatically in collaboration with Automation1. At the heart of version 1.2 of the platform is a new portal control scheme that will serve as the basis for future schemes. The platformhas its own software- basedmotion controller, making it easy to control different positioning systems as well as connected components. www.aerotech.co.uk Hybrid drive cable carries power and data over distances of up to 100m