With two digital inputs, two digital outputs and two analogue inputs, the robot can be used with, say, an electrically operated gripper with position detection sensors - and there is no need to route cables along the robot arm or run additional cables back to the robot controller.įollow the link for more information about the Universal Robot.For example, if a user clicks on a button, that event must cause the MATLAB code that implements the function of the button to be executed. It also generates much less noise than larger, more complex robots, so it is suitable for use in areas where people are working.Ī neat feature on the robot is a built-in electrical interface for the end-of-arm tooling. Unlike most other robots, this new addition to the RA Rodriguez range consumes little power, typically less than 200W, and it can operate from a standard 240V single-phase mains power supply. It requires a footprint of just 147mm diameter, has a working radius of 85cm, handles a payload of 5kg and its joints can rotate at up to 180deg/s repeatability is quoted as +/-0.1mm. It can therefore automate various tasks in the production environment for which reprogramming is quickly achieved via the 12-inch touch-sensitive screen. One of the first users of a Universal Robot is reported to be expecting a return on investment in as little as three to four months for an application in which the robot is tending a CNC turning centre.Īs the Universal Robot weighs just 18kg it is easily moved around and requires no dedicated base. In addition, it is field-maintainable with, for example, joints that can be changed easily. Although no IP rating is quoted, the robot is designed to be simple to clean. Typical applications for the Universal Robot are likely to include end-of-line packaging and tending injection moulding machines and CNC machining centres, especially in medium-volume applications. A Universal Robot is claimed to be the ideal entry-level automation device that can be set up by a competent engineer with no prior experience of robot programming. Universal Robots can benefit a wide variety of manufacturers, really coming into their own where traditional robots are considered to be too large, expensive, noisy, complex to program or insufficiently flexible. It would also be possible to have two Universal Robots working together serving, for example, multiple machines or workstations. It can therefore be interfaced to other control systems, I/O or even a 2D or 3D vision system. As well as the Ethernet port, the controller also has eight digital inputs, eight digital outputs, two analogue inputs and two analogue outputs.

Programming 6 axis robotic arm