PRODUCT REVIEWS
Collaborative welding with Cobot Move
The new Cobot Move linear axis by Lorch Schweisstechnik is designed to significantly extend the previous application options for Cobot welding .
“ The Cobot ’ s working radius has been increased to more than 4.5 metres thanks to a traversing axis , making it possible to set up much larger workpieces or use multi-station operation on a single worktable . One important special feature is the Cobot ’ s ability to operate without any safety enclosure , enabling easy integration into existing working environments without any great effort ,” explained the robot specialist .
“ Companies will now be able to weld larger workpieces , or several smaller ones clamped on a worktable , automatically even more easily . The core of this new solution is a linear axis with a traversing range of 2,000mm , operated with a high-precision repeatable ballscrew drive that achieves traversing speeds of 2-160mm per second . The linear axis can be mounted on any standard welding worktable with a length of at least 2.4 metres . Even already-installed Cobot Welding Solutions with a UR 10e Cobot can be easily retrofitted with the linear axis to extend the Cobot ’ s working range to more than 4.5 metres ,” it added .
The Cobot , said the manufacturer , can still be used collaboratively and remain CEcompliant . It can also , it explained , be used without any additional safety technology such as laser scanners or protective enclosures , which “ makes installation quick and easy and greatly simplifies integration into the existing production environment .”
“ Welding is also possible while the Cobot is traversing on the linear axis . The Cobot joint position will not change at any point , ensuring a uniformly high-quality result of the weld seam . Even very long parts that used to require time-consuming repositioning can now be welded efficiently in a single continuous
MAY 2023
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General Enquiries The Cobot Move can be controlled and programmed using the Lorch Motion URCap .
step , thanks to the enlarged working area ,” commented Lorch Schweisstechnik .
The use of the linear axis also brings benefits with ‘ nesting operation ’, in which series components are welded one after the other on a worktable in multi-station operation . Once the first component has been programmed , all subsequent ones can be welded simply by moving the Cobot .
“ The joint position of the Cobot remains the same for each component and guarantees an optimal weld seam . This increases the Cobot ’ s working space at constant repeat quality . However , nesting operation not only reduces programming effort but also significantly increases productivity . While the Cobot is welding in one station , workpieces can be prepared for the next welding process in other ones at the same time ,” explained the manufacturer .
Users can use the URCap Lorch Motion with several control options for programming the Cobot Move .
“ This software is just as user-friendly as the powerful Cobotronic for all Lorch Cobot solutions . The Cobotronic itself has many additional functions for the user , such as the QuickPoints function for easy programming of waypoints and welding commands or the SmartCopy that allows copying of welding sequences once programmed for a part to transfer them to identical parts in different positions in the Cobot ’ s workspace ,” added the manufacturer .
The latest innovation in this area is the automatic SeamTracking weld correction , allowing the Cobot to follow a weld seam ’ s course , even if the workpieces are slightly distorted or slightly outside the tolerances .
Dr . Ing . Caren Dripke , department head of robotics development at Lorch Schweißtechnik , concluded : “ The Cobot Move is the perfect complement to our welding Cobot . The additional linear axis [ unlocks ] a significantly larger working area , permitting automated welding of longer and larger workpieces and significantly increasing output in the production of series parts . Its sophisticated axis design also enables unchanged collaborative operation of the system . This means that the system retains its typical flexibility and full accessibility without compromising on safety .” n
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78 | ismr . net | ISMR May 2023