ABB launch powerful new robot for cleaning of aluminium castings in automotive industry

Citation

(2003), "ABB launch powerful new robot for cleaning of aluminium castings in automotive industry", Industrial Robot, Vol. 30 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2003.04930bad.002

ABB launch powerful new robot for cleaning of aluminium castings in automotive industry

ABB launch powerful new robot for cleaning of aluminium castings in automotive industry

Keywords: ABB, Robots, Machining

ABB Tricept robot to offer cost-efficient flexibility for processing of cast automotive parts

ABB, the global power and automation technologies group, has launched the IRB 940 Tricept robot to complement its extensive range of foundry automation equipment (Plate 1). The IRB 940 is an exceptionally powerful and robust robot developed for the robotic cleaning and pre-machining of aluminium castings for the automotive industry.

Plate 1 IRB 940 Tricept robot

ABB, which has supplied over 100,000 robots worldwide, has a leadership commitment to robot-based foundry automation, from the smelter to casting and cleaning of parts. Over the last 30 years more than 10,000 ABB robots have provided improved parts quality, higher productivity and better working conditions in foundries across the world.

The IRB 940 Tricept, the product of an alliance between ABB and Sweden-based machine builder SMT Tricept, offers superior performance for the demanding application of heavy cleaning and pre-machining of aluminium castings. The robot is a combination of a mechanical arm built by SMT Tricept and ABB’s well-proven S4Cplus robot controller. Having the same controller for both conventional armtype robots and the Tricept robot on the same production line provides benefits for the end user customer in terms of a common programming language, ease-of-use, spare parts and training. All arm robot functions in the S4Cplus controller are supported for IRB 940 Tricept. Based on ABB’s proven leadership in motion control with the S4Cplus the IRB 940 Tricept has excellent motion performance with an acceleration of approximately 1 g, an absolute accuracy of approximately 0.008 in. (0.2 mm), and repeatability of approximately (0.02 mm).

In comparison with conventional arm robots, the IRB 940 Tricept is an extremely robust structure offering a vertical machining power of 1,300 kg and a horizontal machining power of 350 kg. This robot has the ability to perform machining applications that normally can only be done by machine tools, but still keeping the flexibility and lower cost of an industrial robot. The Tricept design is based on a parallel kinematics framework, best illustrated as an up-side down camera stand, featuring three linear actuators with a center tube in the middle and three additional axes on the wrist.

David Marshall, ABB, Business Manager for Robotics, comments: “ABB has many years experience under its belt in the development of automation for deburring, fettling and cleaning cast parts. The IRB 940 Tricept is a niche product developed to complement ABB’s existing cast-cleaning products in this narrow but rapidly growing market. The target market for the IRB 940 Tricept is in processing of cast automotive parts such as sub-frames, bumpers and other structural components”.

ABB plans to offer the robot to a limited number of system integrators with extensive aluminium part cleaning experience. IRB 940 Tricept is a part of an extensive ABB program aiming at developing even better robot-based flexible automation products for aluminium parts manufacturers.

For further information, contact: David Marshall, ABB, Auriga House, Precedent Drive, Rooksley, Milton Keynes MK13 8PQ, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 1908 350300; Fax: +44 (0) 1908 350301; E-mail: david.marshall@gb.abb.com