Wittmann Battenfeld exhibits new, enhanced robots for injection molding tasks
At Fakuma, Wittmann Battenfeld unveiled its Sonic 108 robot for use on presses with clamping forces from 55 tons upwards, and exhibited its newly upgraded WX153 robot.
The Sonic 108 is the latest in the Sonic line of high-speed robots, introduced in 2019. The previous models are designed to work with injection molding machines (IMMs) with clamping forces from 165 tons to 550 tons.
In contrast to the larger models, the Sonic 108 comes equipped with a fixed demolding axis that is well-suited for small IMMs. Short overhangs and a compact control cabinet simplify the housing of the automation cell, according to the company. During the active demolding stroke movement above the mold space, no axis elements are pushed toward the injection unit, which simplifies the enclosure, especially in the area behind the fixed clamping plate of the machine.
The Sonic 108 has been optimized for high-speed parts removal in packaging and pick-and-place applications.
“Our group has seen a need for smaller high-speed robots for injection molding machines starting around 50 tons,” said Jason Long, national sales manager for robots and automation at Wittmann Battenfeld Inc. “The Sonic 108’s fixed demolding axis works well for these smaller-tonnage machines. The new Sonic 108 can handle cycle times at and below four seconds with ‘in/out’ times below 0.9 seconds. We feel this new robot will fit well in high-speed packaging and pick-and-place applications.”
To facilitate high-speed removal, the company has completely revised the drive system. The Sonic 108 can handle payloads of up to 4.4 pounds.
The Sonic 108 comes standard with the company’s iVac vacuum control with a blow-off function; axis activation; SmartRemoval technology for fast part-removal times; and digital visualization of the axial movements. The robot is available with horizontal strokes of up to 4.9 feet and vertical strokes of up to 3.3 feet.
Wittmann Battenfeld also exhibited its upgraded WX153 robot, available since June. The WX153 is designed for automating machines with clamping forces from 550 to 1,430 tons. The Cartesian robot has a mobile X-axis that serves as the demolding axis.
A horizontal stroke of up to 59 feet and a vertical stroke of up to 8.5 feet are possible. An X-stroke of up to 4.6 feet is available for parts removal.
“The biggest upgrade is the extended X-stroke,” Long said in an email. “The last model maxed out at 1,200mm [3.9 feet] and the new upgraded model is 1,400mm [4.6 feet]. That gives the robot a max reach of 1,790mm [5.9 feet].”
The WX153’s standard equipment includes internal tubing and/or wiring, easily accessible lubrication points and an integrated control cabinet at the rear of the horizontal carrier.
Three additional axes can be mounted at the end of the vertical axis to drive the removal gripper, the company said. Wittmann also can build tandem robot systems that allow two robots to operate closely together on the main carrier while being controlled through the same control cabinet, which saves space.
Various optimizations enable the WX153 to operate with a gripper weighing more than 44 pounds, even when using three additional axes, the company said.
Bruce Geiselman, senior staff reporter
Contact:
Wittmann Battenfeld Inc., Torrington, Conn., 860-496-9603, www.wittmann-group.com
About the Author
Bruce Geiselman
Senior Staff Reporter Bruce Geiselman covers extrusion, blow molding, additive manufacturing, automation and end markets including automotive and packaging. He also writes features, including In Other Words and Problem Solved, for Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing, Plastics Recycling and The Journal of Blow Molding. He has extensive experience in daily and magazine journalism.