n TECHNOLOGY April 2025 www.drivesncontrols.com 16 SIEMENS IS PROMISING to revolutionise machining robotics with a new technology that, it claims, will deliver a 200–300% improvement in path accuracy, increases in productivity of up to 40%, and much higher dynamic rigidity. It describes its “groundbreaking” Sinumerik Machine Tool Robot (MTR) technology as “a signicant advance in the precision and productivity of robots that will open the door to new applications in the manufacturing industry”. MTR is based on an intelligent control concept that gives industrial robots the characteristics of machine tools. It supports high-precision path applications, even when machining tough materials such as steel, whose hardness requires increased cutting forces and more damping. Compared to conventional industrial robots, the new system is said to overcome these challenges with an improvement in path accuracy of up to 300%, and much higher dynamic rigidity. These characteristics make it ideal for demanding processes in sectors such as aerospace, defence, and automotive, and for other precision robotic applications, including post-processing of 3D-printed metal parts. The MTR adds new functions and types of robot to Siemens’ Sinumerik Run MyRobot / Direct Control system. According to Siemens, it enables “a quantum leap” in accuracy and productivity. As well as improved accuracy, the new control concept delivers a 20–40% increase in productivity. This makes it especially attractive for applications that don’t use process forces, such as waterjet and laser cutting. The MTR is controlled by Siemens’ Sinumerik One digital CNC. It uses digital twins to simulate and test workows virtually. The rst users to integrate the MTR into their robots are autonox Robotics and Danobat, which is a new Siemens partner. Danobat is a CNC machinery specialist that entered the robot market recently with a family of precision robots that, it says, set new benchmarks in accuracy and eciency, combining the exibility of a robot with the stability and precision of a machine tool. It plans to oer MTR robots ranging from compact versions with payload capacities of 220kg and a reach of 2.6m, to one that can handle payloads of up to 520kg with a 3.6m reach. These robots are said to combine the accuracy and stability of a machine tool with the agility and exibility of a six-axis robot, and are expected to create new manufacturing opportunities for demanding industries such as aerospace, e-mobility, and energy. The Sinumerik MachineTool Robot is available initially in Europe and Asia. www.siemens.com pOnRobot, the Danish supplier of hardware and software for robots, has launched a vacuum gripper with a lifting capacity of 30kg – its highest payload to date. The VGP30 gripper is designed to handle palletising boxes, as well as irregular shapes and porous surfaces – even those made from thin, cost-saving cardboard. The VGP30 is ready for immediate deployment out of the box and includes all the hardware and software needed for all major robot brands. “Intelligent” vacuum control adjusts the gripper automatically to any box size, optimising air consumption and reducing energy costs. https://onrobot.com pRenesas Electronics has announced a Pronet-certied IRT and PROFIdrive software stack for its RZ/T and RZ/N series of microprocessors (MPUs) for industrial networking. The initial versions are available for the RZ/T2M MPU for servomotor controls, and the RZ/N2L for industrial internet gateways applications such as remote-IO or industrial Ethernet devices. The software stack simpllies the path to device certication. pNord Drivesystems has announced a new surface treatment for gearboxes, smooth motors and inverters made from aluminium, making them resistant to extreme environmental conditions. With the NXD treatment, aluminium surfaces are galvanised, making them particularly corrosion-resistant and durable. There are two variants: NXD Basic, which consists of a galvanically-produced base layer with an additional varnish and is suitable for tough conditions such as those found oshore; and NXD tupH, a food-safe variant where the galvanised base layer is treated with a sealer, preventing aking or microcracks that could harbour germs. www.nord.com/en/home-uk.jsp p The Chinese car-maker BYD has developed a 580kW electric vehicle motor capable of running at 30,511 rpm – claimed to be a mass-production record. It has also developed a silicon carbide (SiC) power chip rated up to 1.5kV – the highest rating to date for a production SiC device. The motor and SiC chip are part of a new platform that can charge EVs at 1MW, allowing 400km of range to be added in ve minutes. The platform is being used in two new EVs with top speeds above 300km/h. p A Belgian polymer specialist Syensqo has formed a partnership with Politubes, a manufacturer of exible multi-layered spiralwound tubes and insulator caps components, to develop spiral-wound tubes for electric motor slots using Ajedium polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) lm. The tubes are said to oer improved insulation for motors, increasing their e¦ciency by up to 2%, and enabling a more eective copper ll factor and improved heat dissipation. TECHNOLOGY BRIEFS Siemens’ Machine Tool Robot is controlled by its Sinumerik One CNC system Technology ‘revolutionises’ machining robotics with up to 300% higher precision NIDEC INSTRUMENTS has announced a new range of high-accuracy AC servomotors with battery-free magnetic absolute encoders, as well as other enhancements including high peak and cogging torques, top speeds and levels of ingress protection. The S-Flag Dynamic Motion MB series motors have evolved from the earlier S-Flag models, which Nidec originally developed for its use in its own transfer robots. Nidec says that in some markets and applications there is an increasing demand for absolute encoders that can remember locations of devices, even after they have been switched o. So far, the conventional way of achieving this has been to connect a backup battery to the encoder. However, with a growing demand to reduce the need for battery maintenance, Nidec has now adopted battery-less encoders with a resolution of 23 bits. The new motors’ rated peak torque levels have been increased from 300% to 350%, while their cogging torque has been reduced from a ratio of 3% to 1.5%, enabling more precise movements. The maximum rotating speed has been raised from 6,000 rpm to 7,000 rpm, while water- and dust-resistance have been improved from IP65 to IP67. Enhanced AC servomotors incorporate battery-free absolute magnetic encoders
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