ABB Group today said that its six-axis IRB 1300 robot now includes protective elements so that it can be used in production applications requring durability or freedom from contamination. The company said that sealing all of the robot's electrical components from dust and high levels of liquids will open up opportunities for automation in industries such as automotive and metals fabrication, electronics assembly, and pharmaceuticals.
First launched last year, the IRB 1300 is designed to meet demands for a compact robot than can rapidly lift heavy objects or loads with complex shapes, said ABB. It is now available in IP67, Foundry Plus 2, and cleanroom ISO 4 versions.
ABB enhancements to add applications
For added protection in metals applications including metal die casting, sand casting, forging, and machining, the Foundry Plus 2 version includes the use of stainless steel on the end effector, said ABB. This will prevent rusting that can occur when liquids are applied to wash away dust particles and metallic debris. By helping to protect against premature wear, this feature can help to prolong the robot’s service life, minimizing disruption caused by downtime and unscheduled repairs, the company said.
For applications requiring a clean production environment, in industries such as pharmaceuticals and semiconductor manufacturing, the IRB 1300 ISO 4 cleanroom version features a number of measures to help eliminate the risk of contamination. Key features include the use of chemical resistant exterior paint which helps avoid paint degradation when using cleaning agents that protect against bacteria.
ABB said the robot arm’s design also minimizes the number of gaps where bacteria could form, providing an added level of protection. A particle filter and a fully sealed design prevent grease, oil, and particles from coming into contact with the products being handled, it added.
“The addition of cleanroom and harsh environment capability enables us to offer the benefits of the IRB 1300 to a whole new set of manufacturing applications in industries renowned for their tough nature or their need to be contamination-free,” stated Darren Hung, global product manager for small robots at ABB. “The IRB 1300 is the perfect partner for a wide variety of tasks including materials handling, machine tending, polishing, and assembly and testing.”
“[It] can now help more businesses achieve new standards of speed and accuracy as they develop solutions to lift and handle heavy, complex or irregular shapes, even in small workspaces,” he said.
IRB 1300 designed for tight spaces
Featuring a footprint of just 220 by 220 mm (8.6 x 8.6 in. or 73.9 sq. in.), the IRB 1300 is suitable for use in confined spaces, enabling more robots to be deployed in a specific area if required, said ABB. It is available in three main versions—11 kg/900 mm, 10 kg/1150 mm (22 lb./45.2 in.) and 7 kg/1400 mm (15.4 lb./55.1 in.).
The 11kg (24.2 lb.) payload for the 900 mm (35.4 in.) reach variant is higher than any other competing robot in its class, ABB claimed.
Powered by ABB’s OmniCore controller, the IRB 1300 offers advanced motion control and path accuracy, allowing it to handle a range of applications such as polishing and machine tending.
To maximize the versatility of the IRB 1300, the OmniCore controller can be equipped with a range of additional equipment, including fieldbus protocols, vision solutions, and force control, said ABB.
OmniCore also offers the FlexPendant user interface, which features a large multi-touch display with standard gestures such as pinch, swipe, and tap, allowing users to easily program and operate their robots, it said.
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