AUTOMATICA 2014: Robots for Metalworking
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AUTOMATICA 2014: Robots for Metalworking
Wide-Ranged Offer for All Applications
It's clear a few weeks before the start of AUTOMATICA, which will take place in Munich from June 3 to 6: the range of robot offers and complete solutions for metalworking has never been as comprehensive as today. The exhibitors at the leading world trade fair have the right solution on hand for practically every application.
The two big topics are: automation of machine tools and special robots for metalworking. While robots handle loading and unloading machine tools as well as upstream and downstream work steps in the first case, large six-axis robots take charge of milling cutters and operate as machine tools in the second case.
Automation of machine tools is trend topic number one. The use of robots increases overall productivity of modern machining centers – one reason for the tremendous growth rates in this sector. Because options for reducing the main times of machining processes have been exhausted, optimizing the auxiliary times is the only possibility, and they can be shortened significantly thanks to the use of robots. Additional benefits are minimizing machine downtimes and semi-automatic operation of machines in shifts without workers.
Two solutions are competing in automating machine tools: direct integration of robots into machines and cell concepts, in which complete automation modules including robots can be docked onto machine tools. Trade visitors to AUTOMATICA can obtain information about the advantages and disadvantages of both.
Many users have had very positive experiences with automation of machine tools in simple applications over the past years. Convinced of the process reliability of these systems, the trend today is going in the direction of highly developed automation solutions, as Manfred Hübschmann, Managing Director of Stäubli Robotics, knows from his own experience: "Robots are taking on increasingly complex work content all the way to complete machining, often equipped with automatic gripper replacement systems. In addition, solutions are increasingly in demand, in which robots not only automate machining centers, but also handle linking of production systems and consequently provide even more autonomy.
Be careful when selecting a robot
Today, almost all manufacturers offer six-axis robots for typical tasks. But careful: specific conditions of use play a decisive role in the selection of a suitable robot. In addition to a compact design with small footprint, precision and speed, users should pay attention to other features of robots.
When six-axis robots work inside a machine tool, they have to withstand the hardest production conditions. The unavoidable contact with chips, sanding dust, cooling lubricants, cutting oils and other corrosive media make life difficult for them. Such requirements limit the range of usable robots considerably.
For applications, in which robots are continually exposed to liquid media, additionally protected robots are recommended. Pioneers in this field were the Stäubli six-axis robots in HE design, which were designed specifically for use when exposed to spray water. The wrist joint of this machine has IP 67 protection and can be dipped into liquid media. Kuka is following suit at AUTOMATICA. Waterproof models of the recently started KR Agilus series are available effective immediately. "Thanks to their new waterproof properties, the KR Agilus series functions perfectly in the hardest production conditions and handles loading capacities from six to ten kilograms with ranges of 700, 900 and 1,100 millimeters. Stable stainless steel covers, special surface treatments and numerous gaskets enable unrestricted use of our small precision robot in machine tools," according to Andreas Schuhbauer, Key Technology Manager at Kuka Roboter GmbH.
The development departments at ABB, Fanuc, Epson, Yaskawa and other robot manufacturers are also working on this topic, so that additional pioneering innovations can be expected at AUTOMATICA. In this context, not only the manipulators are the focus, but also software tools and open interfaces to the machine tools, which make programming especially easy without the need of special skills. Thanks to progress in control systems, robots can already be programmed via control of the machine tools in many cases.
Robots as machine tools
Large six-axis robots are competing with machine tools for specific applications in the meantime. All kinds of materials can be machined with correspondingly modified robots. Application possibilities include milling, trimming, drilling, thread cutting, polishing and the like. Robots for such uses should be especially precise and have a rigid structure to ensure usable machining results.
In metalworking, Manfred Hübschmann still considers CNC machining and machining robots such as the Stäubli RX170 hsm only conditionally as competitors: "High-precision machining of a large number of metal parts will remain a domain of machine tools. In small series and in places where precision within the range of tenths of a millimeter suffices, robots can be an economic alternative to be taken seriously. In principle, both solutions have their own markets."
http://automatica-munich.com/en/Home/cn/Journalists/prcn/press-releases
Additional information about AUTOMATICA: http://automatica-munich.com
Watch the service robotics film of AUTOMATICA here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzrLNbCLluo
Photos of the last trade fair: http://media.messe-muenchen.de/AUTOMATICA/#1384851344701_29
AUTOMATICA – International Trade Fair for Automation and Mechatronics
AUTOMATICA is an international trade fair, which covers all areas of robotics + automation in one event. It is the main meeting place for manufacturers and users of robotics, assembly and handling technology as well as industrial machine vision. AUTOMATICA has taken place on the grounds of the New Munich Trade Fair Centre every two years since 2004. The aim of the fair is to present the entire value-added chain in robotics and automation. Messe München GmbH and VDMA Robotik + Automation, trade fair industry advisor, are behind the industry-driven concept of AUTOMATICA. Exhibitor and visitor statistics for AUTOMATICA are audited by an independent auditor for the order of the Gesellschaft zur Freiwilligen Kontrolle von Messe- und Ausstellungszahlen (Society for Voluntary Control of Fair and Exhibition Statistics) and internationally by UFI (Global Association of the Exhibition Industry). www.automatica-munich.com
New Exhibition Area for Professional Service Robotics
AUTOMATICA 2014 will present a separate exhibition area for the topic of professional service robotics for the first time. As a result, AUTOMATICA is positioning itself as a business-to-business platform for professional service robotics and as leading trade fair for industrial robotics and professional service robotics under one roof. The focus is on saleable end products and components, which are used directly as capital goods. You can find details and news at: http://www.automatica-servicerobotics.com/en/meta/home/home.html
Parallel Event
The trade fairs AUTOMATICA and MAINTAIN as well as the guest events Intersolar Europe and electrical energy storage are going to take place overlapping on the grounds of Messe München for the first time in 2014. Visitors can visit all four trade fairs using their respective admission ticket. Exhibitors are going to present innovations and trends from automation, mechatronics and industrial maintenance as well as the solar energy industry and energy storage under the motto "One Stop – Four Shows". You can find additional information at: http://www.automatica-munich.com/en/Home/hd/sideevents
About Messe München International (MMI)
Messe München International (MMI) is one of the world’s leading trade-fair organisations with approximately 40 trade fairs for investment goods, consumer goods and new technologies just in Munich alone. More than 30,000 exhibitors and approximately two million visitors take part annually in the events on the trade fair grounds, in ICM – International Congress Center Munich – and in the MOC Event Center. The leading international trade fairs of Messe München International are FKM-certified (Society for Voluntary Control of Fair and Exhibition Statistics), i.e., exhibitor and visitor statistics as well as area statistics are determined according to uniform standards and audited by an independent auditor. In addition, Messe München International organizes trade fairs in Asia, Russia, the Middle East and South America. With six subsidiaries in Europe and Asia as well as 60 foreign representatives covering 90 countries, Messe München International has a global network. The Group also takes a pioneering role as regards sustainability. It is the first trade fair grounds worldwide, which has been distinguished with the certificate "Energy-Efficient Company" by the Technical Standards Board South (TÃœV SÃœD). Additional information is available at www.messe-muenchen.com
