By integrating Mitsubishi Electric’s robotic solutions, automated technology company Horizon Instruments and the WMG, part of the University of Warwick, have reportedly created the first automated solution that combines two key operations in rotor assembly.
The solution for magnetisation and magnet bonding in electric motors includes a compact and flexible setup, which utilises a four-axis SCARA and a six-axis articulated robot arm, offering a range of motor sizes and topologies.
The WMG research institution at the University of Warwick established DER Winding Centre of Excellence (WCE) in April this year to support the UK to deliver the next generation of sustainable electric motors and address electrification demands.
The facility received a portion of £33m funding from UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Driving the Electric Revolution Challenge, which aimed to support centres developing power electronics, machines, and drives (PEMD).
The WMG Centre High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVMC) at the University of Warwick also provided £300,000 in funding.
The centre will be open to external partners and is intended to progress industry-oriented projects. It will be equipped with winding equipment and assistive infrastructures, including impregnation and machine testing units.
Mark Barnett, business development manager at WMG and head of business development at WCE, said: “We are building an internationally unique facility that will open its doors in 2023.
“With its cutting-edge tools and capabilities, it will attract motor manufacturers looking at advancing the development of their solutions for the automotive, aerospace and many other sectors.”
After being magnetised, magnets are often brittle, making their correct insertion within steel laminate difficult. An ideal system would therefore need to offer both position accuracy and repeatability, which is conventionally provided by CNC machines.
It was also necessary to develop a flexible setup that could accommodate multiple motor topologies and sizes, which the companies claim could only be done through use of robotics.
To address this issue, Horizon Instrument selected two solutions from Mitsubishi Electric.
Mitsubishi Electric (Stand 220) will be at Robotics and Automation 2022 on 01-02 November at the Coventry Building Society Arena. For more information, or to register to attend now, visit www.roboticsandautomation.co.uk.
