CONTROL & AUTOMATION BRAKE SOLUTIONS
KEB
Brakes from KEB ensure safety in robots and cobots
Industrial robots are taking on more and more production tasks . They assemble , transport and ensure greater production efficiencies . With this level of automation , brakes that guarantee precision , speed and safety are critical . But how can brakes precisely meet these requirements and which brake is best for use in industrial robots and cobots ?
As a result of growth in automation , industrial robots are increasingly being used for repetitive work steps . They reduce costs and cut the workload of employees . Robotics can also help with more individual work processes : cobots , for example , are used to improve working conditions and facilitate processes , while maintaining the quality of the products . Regardless of whether robots are used in industry , medicine , warehouse logistics or in the agricultural sector , the following applies : wherever masses need to be braked and held securely in one position , brakes are required that can reliably perform these tasks .
“ Fast movements with large masses such as a car body are commonplace in robotics . This generates a high mass inertia and thus a high torque . The brake now has the task of holding the robot arm in position and braking the movement safely in an emergency . For this case , there is a safety brake that is actuated in a de-energised state ,” explains Kevin Zysk , Sales Engineer , Brakes and Clutches at KEB Automation .
Spring-applied and permanentmagnet brakes for robots
The specific requirements for the brake differ depending on the application . Whilst compact brakes with a high power density are required in medical technology to meet the high safety standards , a long service life of the brake is particularly relevant in industrial applications . Other brake applications require very high positional accuracy which means a backlash-free brake is necessary .
“ With the COMBISTOP spring-applied brake and the COMBIPERM permanent magnet brake , KEB offers customers the right brake solution for different robotic applications . In consultation with the customer , we determine which brake best meets the specific requirements ,” adds Zysk .
The individual advantages of the springapplied or permanent magnet brakes become apparent during the selection process :
The COMBISTOP brake , for example , has a torque of up to 1,500 Nm and is constantly open after reaching the wear limit . In addition , the spring-applied brake can be equipped with further accessories such as a microswitch for monitoring the wear and condition of the brake , or a release lever for manually releasing the brake .
The COMBIPERM permanent magnet brake on the other hand has a maximum torque of 145 Nm and is characterised by compact dimensions , zero backlash and a higher power density . Furthermore , particularly fast switching times are also a feature , says Zysk . “ With the smallest COMBIPERM , the switching time is just 2 milliseconds , with the largest version being only 12 milliseconds . In this way , we can contribute to robots being able to perform their primary task safely and efficiently , thus saving time and costs .”
For further information , please visit For more information , please visit www . keb . co . uk
64 PECM Issue 61