By Ron Shinn
Quebec-based equipment maker Robotiq, which builds products to help manufacturers deploy robots effectively, has introduced the Machine Tending Solution it says increases a machine’s capacity and reduces downtime.
The system is designed to automate tending of CNC machines.
There is no machine hard-wiring required. Robotiq said the system can be deployed in two to three hours and lowers implementation cost by about 50 percent, compared with other robot solutions.
The new system can use a single gripper or double gripper.
The core of the Machine Tending Solution, which was introduced at Automate 2022 in Detroit, consists of Robotiq’s Copilot software, MT controller, a pneumatic panel, button activator and air nozzle kit.
Robotiq said Copilot enables non-trained users to create programs 75 percent faster than with traditional programming methods. It builds a program using waypoints and intuitive menu selections. The software creates the optimum movement between waypoints, finding the best path and automatically avoiding collisions.
Single gripper options can be a Hand-E adaptive gripper or MT Fingertips starting kit.
Double gripper options include two Hand-E adaptive grippers, two MT Fingertips starting kits or a dual bracket plus new compact dual Hand-E bracket.
There is a stack light detector for monitoring machine status and a footswitch activator.
Add-ons include a Robotiq wrist camera and an adjustable pedestal.
Robotiq spokesperson Elisabeth Ste-Marie said the system is compatible with all machine brands.
Contact:
Robotiq, Lèvis, Quebec, 888-966-8993, www.robotiq.com
Ron Shinn, editor
About the Author
Ron Shinn
Editor
Editor Ron Shinn is a co-founder of Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing and has been covering the plastics industry for more than 35 years. He leads the editorial team, directs coverage and sets the editorial calendar. He also writes features, including the Talking Points column and On the Factory Floor, and covers recycling and sustainability for PMM and Plastics Recycling.