AUTOMATION
Cover off safety concerns Assess the safety of your chosen application: does the cobot need to be guarded, unguarded or part guarded? FANUC cobots, depending on the application and risk assessment, can work safely alongside humans unguarded at speeds of up to 250mm per second, so speed is a good indicator as to whether a cobot is the right automation solution for the task. That said, it is not always clear cut. Part guarding or other safety devices can be employed to enable cobots to work alongside humans at higher speeds. However, if the application requires full guarding, making it may not be the right solution.
Protect your investment The IFR considers the average lifespan of a robot to be 12 years; studies suggest this is a conservative estimate. To protect your investment, it is vital that you buy from a brand that is still going to be around in 13, 14, 15 or more years’ time and will support your cobot throughout its lifespan.
Ask potential suppliers for the predicted life of their cobot, how long it will be supported for, how future proof it is in terms of software, and what warranty they offer.
robot series comes with an eight-year zero maintenance guarantee.
Calculate payload and reach The biggest mistake companies make with regard to payload is to go too low. Don’t assume that if a cobot has a payload of 5kg it can lift an item weighing 5kg. To work out your payload requirement, calculate the total load etc) whilst taking into account offset payload and inertia.
When calculating reach, bear in mind that working at full reach limits the cobot’s movement in the robot wrist, so build in additional margin. To help manufacturers choose the right payload and reach for their 5kg payload and 994mm reach up to 25kg payload and 1,889mm reach.
Select sensors and ancillary equipment
If your application requires 2D or 3D vision, consider where you want to mount the camera (remotely or on the cobot). If the cobot will always pick from the same area, a remote mounted camera is best mounted over the pick area, whereas a cobot-mounted
Force sensors (which give the cobot ‘feel’ position parts.
Evaluate your environment If you are planning on using the cobot in a food production environment, you will need to think about IP rating and washdown protection. If the cobot is intended for use in a dusty or dirty environment or is likely to come into contact with machine coolant, you will also need a high protection rating (IP67 or above). When enquiring about IP ratings, make sure that they apply to the entire unit (including the controls), not just the arm. Every model in with food-grade grease, making it safe for use in food production facilities.
Consider connectivity
Does the cobot need to communicate with other equipment, such as CNC machines, part feeding systems, grippers or vision systems? If so, specifying your cobot with the
same communication protocol as peripheral equipment will save cost and integration time. If possible, keep it simple by using standard I/O. However, some applications require Fieldbus as it enables larger amounts of data to be communicated to peripheral equipment.
Plan for the future
for meeting your future needs. Will it be able to accommodate new applications and growth? Does it have software that can be updated and supported? Also bear in mind that if you buy from a company that solely manufactures cobots and in future you need an industrial robot, there will be a new learning curve.
There is a lot at stake when purchasing productivity and health & safety performance pave the way for further automation of more as you continue on your automation journey.
FANUC
www.fanuc.eu SEPTEMBER 2023 | ELECTRONICS TODAY 41
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