Robotics manufacturer Yaskawa has announced a recent upgrade to its Motoman PL Series of palletising robots, with features including newly-tuned kinematics and the latest generation of Sigma7 drive technology.
The newly-announced features were introduced to help improve stability, increase payloads and cycle times and enhancing the overall performance of of the bots, the main applications of which include automatic palletising and de-palletising applications.
The new series comprises six models with a payload range between 80kg (176lbs) and 800kg (1763lbs), with Yaskawa claiming they cover a broad spectrum of high-performance palletising tasks, including classic final packaging applications, which are becoming increasingly automated.
The models’ compact design and small footprint means the Motoman palletising robots are designed to ensure optimum use of space for the set-up of compact palletising cells.
Media cables for grippers can be connected and are collision-free, as they can be fed through the robot base and inside the arm through all axes, as well as the hollow wrist.
The entire Motoman PL range is designed to be compatible with the YRC1000 controller, with a range of path planning and communications functions. The controller is intended for use on medium to larger robots and also features an innovative power regeneration function, which has reportedly been proven to reduce energy consumption by up to 30%.
The controller also synchronises the movements of function grippers or tracks while an optional functional safety unit (FSU) provides a performance combination to protect and minimise the most compact workspaces.
The integral MotoLogix interface enables PLC system programmers to program these robots in their customary IEC61131 conformant PLC programming environment. The interface also removes the need for a dedicated robot programmer and simplifies integration into the PLC controller.
The MotoSim VRC simulation software was designed to support the easy design, planning and simulation of palletising cells. Yaskawa’s PalletSolver palletising software was produced to simplify the programming of pick-up, depositing and layer patterns, which in turn ensures application-specific features such as mixed palletising.
