| | Feb 24, 2011 — The IRB 2600ID with 15 kg handling capacity increases productivity, simplifies programming and lowers overall operating costs
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – ABB Robotics, a leading supplier of industrial robots, has added an Integrated Dress pack (ID) model to its IRB 2600 range of mid-sized material handling robots, introducing the 1.85m reach, 15 kg payload IRB 2600ID. The larger payload IRB 2600ID model features a flexible conduit in its upper arm/wrist for routing cables and hoses for signals, air and power, fully integrating the process equipment with the robot. Supported by IRB 2600 family performance benefits such as superior speed, flexible mounting options, an increased work envelope and unmatched path repeatability, the newest IRB 2600ID model is specifically designed for a wide range of material handling and machine tending applications. ABB is one of the only robot suppliers that offer a mid-size robot in both standard and ID models.
With the internally routed dress pack the movement of the hoses and cables is completely predictable, allowing the IRB 2600ID to operate at maximum speeds and simplifying off-line programming. Without needing to account for swinging cables when simulating robot systems, the time required for fine-tuning programs is minimized by up to 90%. With the increased payload, including a total upper arm load of 26 kg, the IRB 2600ID is suited for applications including case packing, carton handling, process tray handling, small format palletizing, plastic injection molding, machine tool tending, die cast machine tending, and, with a “Foundry Plus 2” protection option, many foundry machine tending applications. The IRB 2600ID can be mounted in multiple configurations and features a work envelope that extends well below its baseline, making it ideal for machine mounted applications.
“The emerging trend in industrial robotic design is for process equipment to be fully integrated with the robot, but until now ID robots have been designed only for arc welding,” said Joe Campbell, vice president of the ABB Robot Products Group in the US. “The higher payload IRB 2600ID model is totally unique to ABB. Now a wide range of users will have a low maintenance, high performance, mid-size robot option for material handling and machine tending applications.”
Hoses and cables firmly secured and protected inside the robot arm and wrist swing far less during operation, reducing their exposure to cutting fluids and other sources of overall wear. This increases significantly the working life of the cables and hoses, and improves the robot’s predictable motion, allowing it to work in narrow spaces and around parts of a complex geometry on which the dressing could otherwise catch. Cable and hose replacement costs are decreased by 75% and up to three production stops per year can be eliminated.
With its compact design and without loose hoses and cables the IRB 2600ID has a very small footprint, with a swing base radius of only 337mm and a base width of only 511mm. The reduced risk of interference with other robots allows for productive, high-density installations with 50% more robots, and up to 50% higher output from a typical production cell. ABB’s patented Quick-Move motion control software ensures that maximum acceleration is used at all times and that cycle times are consistently shorter.
The IRB 2600 robot family, first introduced in Q4 2010, is the latest of ABB’s medium capacity range of multipurpose robots. It offers the best accuracy and speed in its class, improving productivity through increased output, faster cycle times and lower scrap rates. The 15 kg, 1.85m IRB 2600ID is available with ABB’s well proven IRC5 Robot Controller and is fully supported by the ABB Robotics global sales and service organization in 53 countries.
Earlier this month ABB introduced the first IRB 2600ID robot, a 2m reach, 8 kg payload model especially designed for arc welding. | |
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