Feature sponsored by
FEATURE Robotics
develop robots that are energy effi cient and durable, and operate reliably and cost-eff ectively for decades with minimal maintenance. To illustrate the cost-benefi t ratio and payback timescale to UK manufacturers, we are developing a return on investment (ROI) calculator tool. Due to be released later this year, it will allow customers to input appropriate parameters – initial cost, speed of operation, load times, etc. – and calculate the value of their investment in automation in clear, cash terms.
Cobots: flexible, agile and inexpensive
Chief among the new generation of fl exible and adaptable robots being developed are collaborative robots, or cobots. These machines can be liberating for smaller companies and pretty much eliminate cost concerns. We expect to see more cobots working in factories of the future, automating tasks that have, until now, been diffi cult to roboticise. Designed from the outset to be sensitive to the presence of people, cobots can be used in applications alongside humans. Depending on the application in question, the traditional expensive safety infrastructure associated with industrial robots is not always required. This, as well as their smaller footprint, helps to reduce their purchase price. Their ongoing lifetime costs are refreshingly low, too – FANUC’s CRX range of collaborative robots comes with a guarantee of eight years’ maintenance-free operation. Another key factor infl uencing manufacturers’ decision to invest in cobots is their ease of set-up. For example,
Cobots are designed from the outset to be sensitive to the presence of people, and FANUC expects cobots to automate tasks that have been difficult to roboticise
developed in partnership with one of our integrator partners, Cyber-Weld, the CyberMate is a ready-to-use cobot welding system. Its plug-and-play operating system makes it a fl exible, low-cost, high-value solution that can be rapidly reconfi gured for the needs of SME operations.
Connectivity: optimised for the digital age
Another factor helping to make automation a more attractive option than ever before is connectivity. Machine tools and robots are becoming more intelligent. Industry 4.0 means that all devices in the factory are interconnected. An inevitable consequence of this is a trend towards standardisation of CNC applications across a range of manufacturing technologies.
Industry 4.0 means that all devices in the factory are becoming interconnected. An inevitable consequence of this is a trend towards standardisation of CNC applications across a range of manufacturing technologies
At the same time, availability of data
from machines in operation, in real time, is helping to improve quality, reduce unscheduled stoppages and boost productivity. These things are in reach of even smaller companies. Digital twinning is another trend that
is proving benefi cial to larger and smaller companies alike. Developed in conjunction with a physical system, the digital twin can help manufacturers that are looking to scale up, alter or enhance their production lines. By running a virtual version of any changes through the digital twin, they can have confi dence that their automated system can handle them before investing in any new equipment, boosting uptime and eliminating the risk of ending up with a system that is not fi t for purpose.
Always needed Although robots are constantly evolving and becoming more aff ordable, more accessible and more attractive, people will always be needed in factories. Where automation can really make a diff erence is in improving working conditions by taking over physically demanding, repetitive and hazardous tasks, leaving the human workers free to deploy their skills into more valuable areas, and ensuring that the UK’s legacy as a manufacturing powerhouse can continue to thrive.
CONTACT:
FANUC UK
www.fanuc.eu/uk/en
automationmagazine.co.uk
Automation | July/August 2022
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