PRODUCT REVIEWS
Explosion-proof collaborative paint robot
“ With our new CRX-10iA / L Paint, we are releasing the market’ s first explosion-proof( ATEX-rated) collaborative robot( cobot) for industrial painting applications. The FANUC CRX-10iA / L Paint cobot is ideal for all types of paint processes, including wet spraying and dry powder coating as well as many other application types that include adhesive dispensing,” outlined robotics specialist, FANUC Europe.
“ The benefits of industrial paint robots are well documented: they improve the precision of paint jobs, save paint, enhance productivity and boost safety by protecting workers from paint fumes. We are now extending these benefits to those who wish to employ cobots for their painting processes and seek explosion-proof technology,” it continued.
With the new FANUC CRX-10iA / L Paint cobot, humans can work in the same painting area as the robot without safety fences, explained the manufacturer,“ because of the highly sensitive, contact-stopping functionality deployed throughout the CRX series.” The cobot carries approval for use in ATEX-certified Cat. II Group 2G and 2D. It has been designed for ease of use.
“ Similar to what we see in welding
Fanuc’ s CRX-10iA / L Paint cobot paints an electric panel box.
applications, few paint shop workers have extensive knowledge of robotics. This is where the deployment of collaborative robots can help,” said Claude Seiler, Manager Products & Application, European Technical Support Robotics.“ Our CRX-10iA / L Paint, with its easy teach features and drag-and-drop functionality, means that no robot programming expertise is necessary.”
Paint shop professionals can complete programs in minutes via an icon-based app on a tablet teach pendant. There are several intuitive icon commands for paint applications.“ Operators can manually move the cobot arm to the first position required, make a save point and continue through the paint path. The cobot will‘ learn’ its entire range of positioning. Users can also save and apply paint paths to other parts,” continued Claude Seiler.
The FANUC CRX-10iA / L Paint made its debut in Europe at the Global Industrie trade show in Lyon, France, from 11-14 March 2025. The IP67-rated FANUC CRX-10iA / L Paint six-axis cobot offers a maximum payload of 10kg and long reach of 1418mm. Its floor, upside-down or angle-mounting options offer process flexibility. The cobot’ s under-flip motion means that users can manipulate the paint gun in confined spaces.
“ The CRX-10iA / L Paint is fully compatible with almost all automatic end-of-arm guns. End-of-arm tooling suppliers can even program their own plug-in and become part of the FANUC eco-system of CRX partners. End users simply download the plug-in and install it on their CRX cobot for seamless end-of-arm paintgun adoption,” highlighted FANUC Europe.
“ Maximum speed in collaborative mode is 1000mm / s. If based in a closed paint booth, users can activate high-speed mode( 2000mm / s). Robust build quality means up to eight years of maintenance-free operations in painting and coating tasks,” it concluded. n
www. fanuc. eu
The world of digitised welding
WeldCube Air is the Fronius solution to what would otherwise be a complex welding challenge.
“ This cloud-based software solution brings transparency to welding operations and grants a clear overview of welding certificates and welding procedure specifications( WPS). It is a quick and straightforward way for companies to start benefiting from digitalisation and helps with quality assurance and resource efficiency,” highlighted Fronius.
“ Compliance with standards usually involves a lot of bureaucracy. In addition, any potential for optimisation should be identified and quickly implemented without disrupting day-to-day operations to remain competitive,” outlined Joachim Böck, Strategic Product Manager, Fronius International.“ Our WeldCube Air platform takes the strain off welding specialists, freeing up their time and providing them with a well-structured and particularly user-friendly tool.”
WeldCube Air assists welding supervisors with managing and updating welding certificates. Everything is brought together in one place and managed digitally, allowing supervisors to call up the current qualification status of individual welders at any time. Certifications that are soon to expire are flagged so that they can be renewed in a timely manner.
It is not easy to keep track of all the welding procedure specifications, continuously update them and ensure that they are applied correctly. However, this is the only way to fulfil all the verification obligations. With its search function, WeldCube Air provides welding supervisors with clarity and an overview of this slew of documents. Standard-compliant parameter sets( jobs) can be prepared and rolled out to the entire welding machine fleet.
“ This enables welders to quickly find the correct settings for the WPS-compliant welding task, reducing the risk of errors. The valuable time saved overall can be invested in activities such as optimising processes. The WeldCube Air platform also enables all intelligent Fronius welding machines to be managed centrally, such as by conveniently rolling out regular updates with a single click. The software also provides a clear overview of all relevant welding-related key figures retrospectively for 30 days, making it easy
to keep an eye on productivity at all times. Optimisation potential can then be derived from this data,” added the welding specialist.
Using cloud technology, the digital solution does not require complex installation and is ready for immediate use. Users can connect the Fronius welding system to WeldCube Air via the Internet— no extra software is required.
The solution can currently be purchased for all TPS / i and iWave models and will also be compatible with future digital Fronius series. n
www. fronius. com
60 | ismr. net | ISMR May 2025