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The brand new UR30 cobot arm from Common Robots.
Common Robots has lengthy been the main developer of collaborative robotic arms. Earlier in November 2023, the Danish firm upped the manufacturing capability of its UR20 cobot arm to maintain up with buyer demand. And right this moment at iREX in Tokyo, Common Robots unveiled its newest product: the UR30 cobot arm.
Constructed on the identical structure because the UR20, the UR30 cobot arm provides extra payload capability in a compact footprint. With a 30 kg (66.13 lb.) lifting capability, 1,300 mm (51.2 in.) attain, and weight of 63.5 kg (139.9 lb.), the corporate mentioned the UR30 can have a tendency bigger machines, palletize heavy merchandise and help high-torque screwdriving.
Anders Billesø Beck, vp of technique and innovation at Common Robots, advised The Robotic Report that the UR30 has been in improvement for greater than a 12 months. He mentioned that, regardless of the recognition of the UR20, some prospects needed a robotic with a smaller footprint and a better payload capability.
“We noticed some purposes the place the UR20 was too large,” he mentioned. “We’ve discovered that ideally suited mixture of measurement and energy. The footprint of the UR10 resonates with numerous prospects. The UR30 is a supercharged model of the UR10.”
The UR10e weighs 33.5 kg (73.9 lb.), provides the identical attain because the UR30, and has a payload capability of 12.5 kg (27.55 lb.). The UR20 weighs 64 kg (141.1 lb.), has a attain of 1,750 mm (68.9 in.) and provides a payload capability of 20 kg (44.1 lb.).
The UR30 is accessible for pre-order now and can start delivery in Q1 2024. Common Robots is now actively promoting six cobot arms: the UR3e, UR5e, UR10e, UR16e, UR20, and the brand new UR30. Right here’s a chart that compares the corporate’s cobot arms. Be aware that it hasn’t but been up to date to incorporate the specs of the UR30.
The UR20 gained a 2023 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award, which on the time was the corporate’s strongest and quickest cobot ever.
The UR cobot line is rising. Supply: Common Robots
UR30 provides ‘regular mode’ for high-torque screwdriving
The UR10 will nonetheless be helpful, Beck mentioned, because the UR30 is dearer and about double the load. The UR30 provides six levels of freedom and a brand new “regular mode” that Beck mentioned opens up the cobot arm to totally different screwdriving purposes, together with within the automotive business.
UR has mentioned at size not too long ago how cobots are getting used extra within the automotive business. This new characteristic will allow it for use to screw down chassis elements on electrical autos, for instance.
“You probably have a cobot, you might want to measure you probably have collisions with individuals or objects, however that contradicts current exterior forces,” Beck mentioned. “So we now have a selected operate for screwdriving constructed into our cobots now that holds the robotic at a standstill so we are able to face up to extra torque. This allows pretty high-torque tightening purposes with collaborative robots.”
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Meals and beverage driving packaging demand
Beck mentioned UR is seeing numerous demand inside meals and beverage packaging purposes. He mentioned 30 kg is in regards to the cutoff for the quantity of weight people are requested to carry on and off of pallets. “Sacks of rice or canned objects are designed to be on the restrict of what individuals can carry.”
To assist with these heavier-duty packaging purposes, Beck mentioned new 20 to 30 kg grippers are coming to market from a few of UR’s ecosystem companions.
“The upper payload and larger flexibility underpin a brand new period in automation,” said UR President Kim Povlsen. “Industries world wide are embracing extra agile manufacturing and modularity in manufacturing – a part of reaching that modularity and agility is about mobility, and this cobot delivers that regardless of its payload.”
“As industries evolve, the UR30 not solely meets however [also] anticipates shifting calls for, enabling companies to adapt and reply to altering wants successfully,” he mentioned. “As we proceed to innovate, the UR30 is one other step in UR’s journey in pushing the boundaries of what’s doable on this planet of automation.”
Looming milestone
The UR30 isn’t the primary cobot to supply a 30 kg payload capability. FANUC and Yaskawa beat UR to the punch there. However UR has bought way more cobots than any firm thus far.
You possibly can learn extra about UR’s historical past right here, nevertheless it was based in 2005, bought its first cobot in 2008 and was acquired by Teradyne in 2015 for $285 million.
These are among the milestones UR has already reached, however one other is prone to are available 2024: promoting its 100,000th cobot arm. May that historic sale be a brand new UR30?
“The demand in lots of industries has been overwhelming,” Beck mentioned. “We all the time take a look at what’s one of the simplest ways to increase our portfolio. For us, it’s all about having simplicity of selection for our prospects. It needs to be straightforward for them to have a look at our merchandise and decide which one they want. The UR30 is one other step in that route.”