Press release submitted on behalf of Absolute Robot Inc.
Absolute Robot Inc. (ARI), Worcester, Massachusetts, will present a variety of automation solutions in booth W1271 at NPE 2024 in Orlando, Florida. The event takes place from May 6 – 10, 2024 at the Orange County Convention Center. As veterans of the plastics manufacturing industry, ARI provides a range of automation solutions offering a one-stop shop for injection molders.
One highlight in the 30-foot x 40-foot booth will be a TAYU vertical injection molding machine with rotary table and 4-cavity mold automated with a FANUC CRX-10iA/L collaborative robot. Another highlight will be the MaxCW10-1600A+B+C 6-axis top entry robot. The 6-axis top-entry Max-Series robot offering was made available to the North American market in the fourth quarter of 2023.
VERTICAL MOLDING CELL WITH COLLABORATIVE AUTOMATION – EXHIBIT AT A GLANCE
ARI is a FANUC Authorized System Integrator (ASI) with a team of engineers experienced with application automation both at the press and downstream as applications require. The automated machine cell on display at NPE 2024 includes:
Machine: TAYU TYU-850.2R vertical/vertical injection molding machine with 2-station rotary table (vertical clamp and vertical injection)
Tonnage: 96 U.S. tons
Mold: Consumer – spoon with overmolded handle
Cavities: 4 cavities
Material: Polypropylene
Automation: FANUC CRX-10iA/L collaborative robot inserting bowl/neck of the spoon into mold; Removal of completed spoon with overmolded handle
Ancillaries: End-of-Arm tool and guarding provided by ARI
MaxCW10-1600A+B+C TOP-ENTRY ROBOT – EXHIBIT AT A GLANCE
Additional Axes and Updated Control System for the Max-Series
The latest Max-Series top-entry robot features an updated motion controller. Key features of this control system upgrade include additional axes of motion and enhanced “Y-Free” on the demolding stroke. Additional axis options paired with faster motor speed can further reduce the amount of time the robot spends with the mold area, reducing overall cycle time. The updated “Y-Free” function allows the robot to synchronize motor speed with molding machine ejectors to mirror part eject speed without incurring additional time in mold from “Y-Free” utilization.
The new Max-Series control has up to 16 axes of control, up from only five axes on the previous control. This allows for the control of multiple additional movements on the robot arm as well as the ability to control servos on downstream automation (for example, indexing rotary table) from the Max-Series control. The additional robot axes transform a relatively simple X, Y, Z cartesian robot into a highly capable top-entry robot that can spin, grab, flip and reorient parts in exponentially more ways. The layout, programming and form-factor of the robot remain the same, which keeps the robots affordable and easier to operate compared to a floor-mounted 6-axis robot arm.
Updated Servo Drives Increase Speeds for the Max Series
As part of the enhancement program, the new generation robots are equipped with high-performing safe torque off (STO) ASDA A3 servo drives (updated from ASDA A2 drives). The new servo drives deliver a 10 to 15 percent increase in speed. Advantages include:
- Improved cycle times through increased motor speeds
- Continued accurate positioning with absolute encoders
- Consistent safety functionality with safe toque off (STO) drive feature
At NPE, the MaxCW10-1600A+B+C six-axis robot will feature:
- 6-axis of control
- 1600mm vertical reach
- 2500mm traverse
- 4 vacuum and 2 gripper circuits standard
- 20 spare I/O ports in control cabinet
- Custom riser
- Request to enter safety interlock guarding package
Absolute Robot, Inc. was founded to provide the North American molding market with a cost-effective robot line that ranges from pneumatic pickers through full servo robots that may be equipped on machines up to 4,000 tons. ARI is a FANUC Authorized System Integrator (ASI) with a specialty in plastics. While ARI understands the complexities of automation within injection molding, our ASI designation provides us with the product offering to automate applications beyond the press. The automation offerings from ARI include a full range of full servo 3-, 5- and 6-axis top-entry robots, FANUC industrial and collaborative robots, guarding, conveyors, custom end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) and downstream equipment. By providing our North American customer base with both quality and cost- efficient solutions to their automation needs, we assist in keeping them competitive and profitable.
More information: www.absoluterobot.com
