Assembly Planbook - June 2008 - (Page 51)

Many robot suppliers now offer controllers that allow two robotic arms to work in concert in the same way that a person uses his two arms. Photo courtesy FANUC Robotics America Inc. duced its Intelligent Body Assembly One of those suppliers is Kawasaki equipped with grippers, suction cups, System (IBAS), which can assemble Robotics (USA) Inc. (Wixom, MI). or electric or pneumatic clamps. They 10 different models at a time in ran- Earlier this year, the company unveiled a can carry payloads of 100 kilograms dom order. In the IBAS, numerical- line of robots, designed specifically for with a positional repeatability of ±0.05 ly controlled, servo-driven locators fixturing large parts. Called multiaxis millimeter. are used throughout the chassis and servo positioners, these robots can be To demonstrate the capability of body assembly lines to position the new technology, Kawasaki and secure parts for welding. put together a demonstration cell The actuators move to specific for spot welding a side panel for locations based on coordinate a sport utility vehicle. Two fixinformation transmitted from a turing robots (Kawasaki FS20C computer. The actuators are prosix-axis robots) were positioned grammed off-line using simuin the middle of the cell, surlation software. The system is rounded by four servo locators now in place at Nissan facilities and flanked on either side by two throughout the world, including large six-axis robots. The first the company’s plant in Smyrna, six-axis robot picks up a panel TN. with a large gripper constructed More recently, robot manufacfrom modular aluminum framturers have begun offering controling. It then positions the panel lers that allow two robotic arms atop the locators and above the to work in concert, in the same fixturing robots, which reach up way that a person uses his two to clamp down on specific points. arms. Other suppliers have introOnce the frame is securely posiduced robots specifically configtioned, the first six-axis robot ured for flexible fixturing applimoves out of the way, and the cations. These robots are driven This compact fixturing robot can be equipped with four or five second moves in to perform a by the same servomotors, abso- axes of motion. The first axis is a linear slide with a range of series of spot welds. lute encoders and controllers as 250 or 500 millimeters. Attached to the slide is a column that The new robots are already can rotate 190 degrees and move up or down 270 millimeters. six-axis robots, but have shorter, The wrist can swivel in the horizontal plane, the vertical plane being used at several automotive stockier components and fewer or both. Photo courtesy FANUC Robotics America Inc. assembly plants, and the compaaxes of motion. ny expects to see the technology Photo courtesy Merritech www.assemblymag.com June 2008 / ASSE M B LY 51 http://www.assemblymag.com

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Assembly Planbook - June 2008 Contents Editorial Bonding Lines Quality in Assembly Assembly Lines Assembly in Action Fastening or Bonding? Loose Lips Sink Assembly Systems DFMA Cuts Downstream Costs Robots Lend a Hand Products Advertisers Index Classified Leading Lean

Assembly Planbook - June 2008

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