ATM details Cartesian robot system range

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Feb 6, 2009

ATM has detailed its range of Cartesian robot systems, which are used in the plastics industry for part-handling, demoulding and insert-loading tasks, and packaging and palletising operations.

ATM's Cartesian robot range starts with the ES500, a compact robot driven by AC servomotors with a work envelope of 1500 x 400 x 800mm (X,Y,Z).

This robot is capable of handling an 8.0kg payload at speeds of up to 4.0m/s.

The larger ES1000 and ES2000 robots provide greater working ranges and payloads - 2000 x 650 x 1000mm (X, Y, Z) with a 10kg payload for the ES 1000 and 2500 x 1000 x 1500mm (X, Y, Z) and a 12kg payload for the ES2000.

Speeds of up to 4.0m/s can be achieved by the ES1000 with the larger ES2000 capable of achieving speeds of up to 2.5m/s.

For extremely large working ranges and heavy payloads, the ES3000, the largest of the ATM range, can be configured with customised strokes enabling this model to be used with the largest injection moulding machines and handling payloads of up to 40kg.

ATM has recently introduced linear motor drive technology to its side-entry robot systems.

Used in applications where the moulding cycle is very short, generally 3-5s, side-entry robots need to be extremely fast to minimise the tool open time and maximise the output from the moulding machine.

Where traditional rack and pinion/belt drives and ball-screw systems are reaching their limits at de-mould cycles of around 1.5s, linear motor drive technology allows de-mould cycle times of <0.8 seconds to be achieved.

To realise the benefits available from this technology, it is essential that gripper design, concepts and materials are matched to the performance of the robot.

ATM is able to produce gripper systems that enhance the overall capability and performance of the robot system.

Using lightweight materials such as carbon fibre minimises the robot payload and enables the robot to achieve the fastest possible cycle times.

The performance increase that this combination brings means higher productivity and reduced piece part costs.

ATM high-speed side-entry robots are not only used in a standalone configuration - they can be integrated with other robots and automation as part of a complete production cell.

For example, when used in conjunction with an ATM six-axis robot, it is common for the side-entry robot to be driven and controlled by the six-axis robot controller.

By effectively adding the side-entry robot as an additional axis to the main robot, the side-entry robot becomes fully integrated and programmable from the six-axis robot teach pendant.

In this configuration, overall cell control and robot programming is kept simple, while the benefits of ultra-high speed and flexibility are obtained from the combination of the two different robot types.

ATM side-entry robots using linear motor technology can be used to reduce cycle times in a range of applications including injection moulding and packaging.

All of the robots within the ATM's ES range are controlled using a PC-based control system, with operation and programming made simple using the touch-screen handheld pendant.

ATM Automation also provides six-axis and seven-axis robot systems, plastics joining technologies, gripper and tooling systems and complete system solutions.