Product category:
Robotics, Handling and Storage
News Release from: Wittmann UK | Subject: 7 Series linear robots
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 31 January 2005
Linear robots boast superior performance
Wittmann reckons its newly designed 7 Series of linear robots are its best performing and most competitively priced robots yet.
Wittmann's newly designed 7 Series of linear robots - available in the UK from 2005 - are "our best performing and most competitively priced robots yet", according to Barry Hill, Wittmann UK Managing Director With superior performance, the new Wittmann robots offer cost savings of over 20% on the previous generation
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 9 Aug 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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"We have capacity production available to us in Hungary and China", says Hill, "and the Series 7 robot is going to be a very hard proposition for any busy trade moulder to resist".
"Next year will be a very good opportunity to secure Wittmann technology and design at cheapest cost".
The new Wittmann robots are squarely aimed at the majority of companies involved in injection moulding sectors.
Comparatively short production lead times will ensure the lower cost and steady market supply of the machines.
Hill says: "For more complex automated operations we offer, of course, our Kawasaki six-axis range".
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The payload and injection moulding machine size range for the new 7-Series of Wittmann linear robots has been increased with the Model W753 Compact S3 to include large tonnage injection moulding.
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"In truth, however, most moulders will be interested in the cost savings and quick paybacks offered by the new 3D linear servo robot".
"A six axis robot can often be overspecified for the job at hand and requires a higher level of servicing and workforce technician to understand and operate it".
With its new touchscreen programming and eight simple and standard programs the Series 7 robot offers a very easy operator interface.
Hill also points that the new robots are web enabled for remote access and programming and that the CNC teach/programming pendants are detachable from each robot.
This allows the user to, for example, run four robots using just two teach pendants - and save cost in the process.
The Series 7 are low maintenance in more than one sense: as standard, the robots are equipped with linear bearings with lubrication chains - providing lubrication intervals of up to one year.
The new robot also dispenses with the need for a floor standing control cabinet - freeing floor space.
Hill believes that the new Wittmann Series 7 robot is also a defining moment in the globalisation of the automation of the moulding industry.
"I believe that the moulding industry - UK included - is fast becoming global and therefore needs the security and low cost of a global supplier in order to keep on level terms".
"I doubt whether any other supplier has been able to design and manufacture their products better and at a reduced price of over 20% for the customers benefit".
Hill adds: "Demand from the Series 7 will be such that the UK's supplies are likely to be coming from China before the end of 2006".
"And as those in know have pointed out ?manufactured in China is a badge of excellence for the future".
"The UK processing cost base has to reduce further in price", he adds, "and the Wittmann Series 7 is going to play its part".
"And not only is the Series 7 range cheaper than a number of current imports from Far Eastern competitors, it is also freely programmable while these competing robots are not", says Hill, "unable to break free of the preprogramming to tackle jobs such as double ejection moulds, palletising and so forth".
A more serious concern for the industry, says Hill, is that "many of the cheaper robot imports do not have safety circuits fitted".
The flagship model for the new line of Wittmann servo robots - unveiled for the first time at last years K 2004 - is the W711 CS3.
The Model W711 robot offers a payload of 5kg and is perfectly suited for any injection moulding automation application.
The robots are equipped as a standard with three highly dynamic servo drives and high precision linear rails on all axes.
This allows the high velocities common to all Wittmann robots and thereby reduces part removal times inside the mould area to an absolute minimum.
Mechanically, the new W711 robots are based on the structure of the new W710 with both robot models featuring a fixed kick-stroke in order to avoid any potential collision with hoppers or blenders on moulding machines with shorter injection units.
As these robots are specifically designed for smaller tonnage presses and therefore shorter axes strokes, indexing belts are used in the horizontal and vertical axes.
Indexing belts guarantee quiet operation even during high speed motion of the arms.
The linear guides offer extended lubrication intervals and high load operation of the robot.
Advancing miniaturisation of the electrical components and the simultaneous increase in performance enables the elimination of the control cabinet.
All three compact servo modules are directly mounted inside the kick-stroke and the few remaining and highly integrated switching and safety boards are placed in a small housing behind the horizontal axis.
Robot models W711 are equipped as a standard with the CNC6.2 flexible control system and can be optionally supplied with the new R7 Touch Screen control.
Both control platforms are already used on the well proven 6-Series robot line and excel in offering unlimited programming possibilities.
In order to offer the W711 robot line at an attractive price - including numerous standard features - the units are manufactured in serial production and offer, in comparison to the Wittmann 6-Series robot line, a reduced set of options.
However, available options include additional rotary axes, vacuum and gripper circuits, input and output modules, and a conveyor indexing option.
Wittmann has also introduced the new 7-Series linear robots with the model W721 Compact S3 at K2004.
The W721 Compact S3 robot will replace the very popular Compact Series W621 for applications on moulding machines up to approximately 350 tons of clamping force.
The W721 Compact S3 Series robots offer a maximum payload of 10kg and are equipped as standard with 3 highly dynamic servo drives, allowing a very fast and co-ordinated motion of all numeric axes.
In order to minimise the critical part removal time within the mould open area special attention was given to the fast motion of the vertical axis.
The aluminium profiles of the vertical arm were optimised during an extensive development process.
By employing finite element calculations a further improvement in stiffness and lightweight construction has been achieved for fast, vibration free motion.
The result of these efforts is a sensational cost/performance ratio of the new axis, which until a few years ago was only achievable with very expensive high speed servo packages.
Similar to its predecessor, the model W721 Compact S3 is equipped with the unique moveable kick-stroke axis in order to achieve the most balanced load on the linear guides and therefore long life expectancy of the entire guide system.
Additional advantages of the moveable kick-stroke are an unlimited workspace in front of the vertical arm and a short adapter height which is reflected in the low overall height of the unit.
The tradition of the Wittmann Compact Series has been continued by not using an external control cabinet.
All three compact servo modules are directly mounted on the kick-stroke axis and the few remaining and highly integrated switching and safety boards are placed in a small housing behind the horizontal axis.
W721 Compact S3 robots are equipped as a standard with the CNC6.2 flexible control system and can be optionally supplied with the new R7-Touch Screen control.
Both control platforms are already used on the well proven 6-Series robot line and excel in offering unlimited programming possibilities.
In order to offer the W721 Compact robot line at an attractive price - including numerous standard features - the units are manufactured in serial production and offer, similar to the W621 Compact robots, a reduced set of options.
However, available options include additional rotary axes, vacuum and gripper circuits, input and output modules, and a conveyor indexing option.
For the first time Wittmann displayed at last years K 2004 plastics exhibition in Dusseldorf the completely newly developed electropneumatic linear robot Model W710.
This unit will follow the successful model W720 robot that was specifically designed for simpler part removal and secondary operations.
The robot models W710 are available with vertical strokes up to 1200mm and horizontal strokes up to 2000mm.
Compared with the preceding model W720 robot, the W710 offers a very attractive price and at the same time provides all options and expansion possibilities.
The W710 robot offers a payload of 5kg and is equipped with a fixed removal axis.
Like all Wittmann robots for the small tonnage range of presses, this minimises the chance of possible collisions with blenders and tall material loaders on moulding machines with small tonnage and shorter injection units.
Using the already proven C61 control system - which is used unchanged from the preceding robot model - any position on the horizontal axis can be taught and programmed.
This allows simple palletising routines, as well as the teaching of separate sprue cutting sequences, quality control routines and positions for the placement of reject parts.
Following the philosophy of Wittmann to equip all robots with a freely programmable control system, the C61 allows the programming and execution of arbitrary program sequences.
In order to satisfy the requirements of today's moulding shops for shortest possible part removal times and successfully compete as the lowest cost producer, the vertical axis of the W710 linear robot is optimised for minimal vibration.
This allows not only for a fast and delay-free removal of moulded parts but also minimised wear of the mechanical components of the axis.
The horizontal axis of the robot is equipped with a dynamic, frequency controlled motor and all components of the control system are directly mounted on the robot structure.
This avoids the necessity for a separate control cabinet next to the moulding machine.
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