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The brand new UR30 cobot arm from Common Robots.
Common Robots has lengthy been the main developer of collaborative robotic arms. Earlier in November 2023, the Danish firm upped the manufacturing capability of its UR20 cobot arm to maintain up with buyer demand. And right now at iREX in Tokyo, Common Robots unveiled its newest product: the UR30 cobot arm.
Constructed on the identical structure because the UR20, the UR30 cobot arm affords extra payload capability in a compact footprint. With a 30 kg (66.13 lb.) lifting capability, 1,300 mm (51.2 in.) attain, and weight of 63.5 kg (139.9 lb.), the corporate stated the UR30 can have a tendency bigger machines, palletize heavy merchandise and assist high-torque screwdriving.
Anders Billesø Beck, vp of technique and innovation at Common Robots, instructed The Robotic Report that the UR30 has been in growth for greater than a 12 months. He stated that, regardless of the recognition of the UR20, some prospects wished a robotic with a smaller footprint and the next payload capability.
“We noticed some purposes the place the UR20 was too massive,” he stated. “We’ve discovered that best mixture of measurement and energy. The footprint of the UR10 resonates with a whole lot of prospects. The UR30 is a supercharged model of the UR10.”
The UR10e weighs 33.5 kg (73.9 lb.), affords the identical attain because the UR30, and has a payload capability of 12.5 kg (27.55 lb.). The UR20 weighs 64 kg (141.1 lb.), has a attain of 1,750 mm (68.9 in.) and affords a payload capability of 20 kg (44.1 lb.).
The UR30 is accessible for pre-order now and can start delivery in Q1 2024. Common Robots is now actively promoting six cobot arms: the UR3e, UR5e, UR10e, UR16e, UR20, and the brand new UR30. Right here’s a chart that compares the corporate’s cobot arms. Observe that it hasn’t but been up to date to incorporate the specs of the UR30.
The UR20 gained a 2023 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award, which on the time was the corporate’s strongest and quickest cobot ever.
UR30 affords ‘regular mode’ for high-torque screwdriving
The UR10 will nonetheless be helpful, Beck stated, because the UR30 is dearer and about double the burden. The UR30 affords six levels of freedom and a brand new “regular mode” that Beck stated opens up the cobot arm to totally different screwdriving purposes, together with within the automotive business.
UR has mentioned at size not too long ago how cobots are getting used extra within the automotive business. This new characteristic will allow it for use to screw down chassis elements on electrical autos, for instance.
“You probably have a cobot, you might want to measure when you have collisions with folks or objects, however that contradicts current exterior forces,” Beck stated. “So now we have a particular operate for screwdriving constructed into our cobots now that holds the robotic at a standstill so we are able to face up to extra torque. This permits pretty high-torque tightening purposes with collaborative robots.”
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Meals and beverage driving packaging demand
Beck stated UR is seeing a whole lot of demand inside meals and beverage packaging purposes. He stated 30 kg is in regards to the cutoff for the quantity of weight people are requested to carry on and off of pallets. “Sacks of rice or canned gadgets are designed to be on the restrict of what folks can carry.”
To assist with these heavier-duty packaging purposes, Beck stated new 20 to 30 kg grippers are coming to market from a few of UR’s ecosystem companions.
“The upper payload and larger flexibility underpin a brand new period in automation,” said UR President Kim Povlsen. “Industries world wide are embracing extra agile manufacturing and modularity in manufacturing – a part of attaining that modularity and agility is about mobility, and this cobot delivers that regardless of its payload.”
“As industries evolve, the UR30 not solely meets however [also] anticipates shifting calls for, enabling companies to adapt and reply to altering wants successfully,” he stated. “As we proceed to innovate, the UR30 is one other step in UR’s journey in pushing the boundaries of what’s attainable on the earth of automation.”
Looming milestone
The UR30 isn’t the primary cobot to supply a 30 kg payload capability. FANUC and Yaskawa beat UR to the punch there. However UR has bought way more cobots than any firm to this point.
You’ll be able to learn extra about UR’s historical past right here, but it surely was based in 2005, bought its first cobot in 2008 and was acquired by Teradyne in 2015 for $285 million.
These are a number of the milestones UR has already reached, however one other is more likely to are available in 2024: promoting its 100,000th cobot arm. May that historic sale be a brand new UR30?
“The demand in lots of industries has been overwhelming,” Beck stated. “We at all times have a look at what’s the easiest way to develop our portfolio. For us, it’s all about having simplicity of selection for our prospects. It ought to be straightforward for them to take a look at our merchandise and choose which one they want. The UR30 is one other step in that route.”