ST Robotics Integrates Controllers With igus Robots

Cartesian and delta robots from igus offer great value, use the Drylin lubrication-free linear axes, and come with clear instructions for assembly, according to ST Robotics. These robots can be even easier to program and perform even better with the ST K11R robot controller, the company claimed yesterday.

"igus robots are transformed with the ST controller with dramatic improvements in performance, thanks to 24-bit ADL inverse kinematics and the super-fast DSP," stated David Sands, a serial inventor and CEO of ST Robotics.

Sands Technology International Inc., which does business as ST Robotics, is based in Princeton, N.J., and has an office in Cambridge, U.K. The company said it has relationships with dealers worldwide.

ST Robotics offers R15 linear robot

ST Robotics offers large linear robots, but for smaller systems -- below 2 m stroke -- it has adopted the igus range, adding the ST K11R robot controller.

The company listed the following advantages over the controller offered by igus:

1. Simple English-language software (RoboForth)
2. Automatic calibration
3. Higher speeds thanks to dual processors with a Texas DSP (digital signal processor)
4. Zero resonance, quiet running, and very low power consumption
5. Control over parameters such as rate of change of acceleration to eliminate shake and overshoot
6. Resolution down to 0.01 mm
7. Collision detection and recovery

ST Robotics said it can replace the igus controller for smaller linear robot applications, and it supplies the igus robot along with the ST controller as part of its R15 Cartesian robot range. The R15 is supplied fully wired with cable chains and cables, encoders and calibration sensors.

The ST K11R controller is offered with igus linear robots. Source: ST Robotics

If a customer prefers to build its own robot, it can buy the robot from igus and still buy the ST robot controller with cables and firmware. They would be "ready to go, tailored to the format and size of robot you are building," said ST Robotics.

The company said it offers the advantages of its speed and software, while the igus hardware is low in cost, and its Drylin axes offer high reliability.

"The result is reliable German engineering with a British-developed controller using American technology," said ST Robotics.

The original ST Robotics R15 range is still available for very large sizes with speeds up to 2 m/sec. on dual recirculating cross roller bearings.

R18 delta robot designed for speed

The R18 includes the K11 controller. Source: ST Robotics

The first igus robot to be offered with an ST controller was the igus delta. ST markets this robot with its K11 controller as the R18.

Like all delta robots, its reach is limited, acknowledged ST Robotics, but it added that the R18's speeds are impressive, as seen in the video below.

The first section shows how easy it is to program. This is followed by the result running at 2 cycles per second, twice as fast as igus' own claim.

"Not bad for a robot costing less than $15,000," asserted ST Robotics.

The ST robot controller for the R18 comes as a cased 19-in. rack certified to CE and FCC EMC standards. In addition to the advantages above it has many options such as opto-isolated I/O expansion, PLC compatibility, and a wireless Bluetooth teach console.