automation | Innovation Bridging the performance gap


Traditionally, the decision between a beam (cartesian) or multi-axis (articu- lated) robot has been a simple one for plastic moulders. Beam robots were the choice for tasks requiring part removal from the mould and delivery to a subse- quent downstream operation; multi-axis robots were the solution where several post-moulding operations had to be integrated. Today, that decision is not so simple.


Beam robots can do a great deal more than pick-and-place but may still fall short of multi-axis models in terms of programming flexibility. UK-based Hi-Tech Automation, a Fanuc integration partner, believes it can bridge this performance gap with the development of its CR robots – traditional beam robots that use the powerful Power Motion iA control and i-Pendant controller from Fanuc’s multi-axis designs but provide programming access through a simplified


customisable interface. Initially designed for machine tool


loading applications – and there are already several in use in this application – Hi-Tech Automation director Gary Probert says the programming capabilities make the CR10 well suited to injection moulders wanting to do more than is possible with a standard beam robot. “There are a lot of beam robots out there but they all do the same thing; pick up a part and put it down somewhere. Our customers all want to do something else,” he says. By combining Fanuc’s hardware and


software control with its own customis- able programming interface, Probert says the CR range gives users simple access to complex automation features. Benefits include high speed, expansion to 32 control axes, support for control of ancillary items, and high level collision


time needing a small footprint because of the floor space issue. The TSE-500 telescopes into the mould to grab the parts, and telescopes back out. It provides part sensing to avoid trapped parts in mould closing, which can result in costly repair and down time. While automation is being increasingly used across


the plastics moulding industry, decisions to invest in robotic equipment must still be taken carefully. Richard Butler is CEO and chief engineer at UK-based Stewart,


protection. Users of Fanuc moulding equipment also gain from direct integra- tion into the injection machine control to optimise function overlap. More than 50% of the components used in the CR series design are from Fanuc, which means customers benefit from the Japanese company’s 25-year spare part guarantee. CR10 and CR20 robots are available


from Hi-Tech Automation in the UK and through Fanuc’s robot network in Europe. ❙ www.hitechautomation.net


which manufactures rotational and injection moulded plastics products for garden, food storage packaging and technical products. He says robots are highly effective in eliminating damage to products on removal from the mould so the company uses robotic demould- ing across its 17,000m2


plant. Butler says greater use of automation has undoubt-


edly improved the company’s efficiency but warns that robots are not a panacea. For example, Stewart uses manual inspection because of a lack of cost effective automated inspection machines that meet the com- pany’s specific production requirements. Ultimately an automation decision must be made by


informed humans if injection moulders are to remain competitive.


Right: A Stäubli robot


configured for cleanroom medical


production in an Engel injection


moulding cell 26 INJECTION WORLD | July/August 2013


Click on the links for more information: ❙ www.ifr.org ❙ www.abb.com/robotics ❙ www.wittmann-group.com ❙ www.sepro-robotique.com ❙ www.staubli.com ❙ www.engelglobal.com ❙ www.waldorf-technik.de ❙ www.cbwautomation.com


www.injectionworld.com


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