Writing this today, it's a sweltering day with a heatwave warning issued since early this morning.

On days like this, I feel truly happy being able to work at home with the cool air conditioning on, scooping out my favorite Together ice cream.

They say the tropical night heatwaves are starting in earnest now. I think staying at home, eating ice cream, and participating in COVID-19 prevention is a great idea. 😉

Now that your ice cream is ready, let's take a look at this week's Robot vs. Robot! Last week, we compared picking robots that distinguish items using 3D vision no matter how jumbled they are.

This week, we are going to compare robots that work across a wide working radius, moving here and there.

First, "Reach (Working Radius)" is one of the very important factors to check when reviewing robot specifications!

Robots, which are usually much larger than humans, are typically installed in one location and can only work within the "Reach," which is the range they can touch the workpiece (or stage).

When reviewing a robot's layout, it's often very tricky because this working radius just doesn't quite fit. 😢 Furthermore, due to an insufficient working radius, people sometimes have to unnecessarily introduce equipment with a larger payload.

To solve this problem, the "Linear Track (or Gantry)" appeared!

These are robots that move across a wide working radius by applying a linear track, brilliantly handling multiple processing machines! I'll compare them for you step-by-step.

1. WIA Turning Center Hydraulic Fitting Machining Assist using Hyundai Robots

 Click the image to view more details.

First, this application case performed by Youngchang Robotech is a process of machining hydraulic fittings by mounting an HH7 robot on a linear track at the top of a WIA machine tool (KIT450).

Although it's not a cramped space, the robot was installed with a linear track on top of the machine tool to utilize the allocated space even more efficiently. This has greatly increased production efficiency by automating the continuous process as a whole!

Additionally, the front of the machine tool is wide open, allowing for smooth access and work during tool replacement and machine tool maintenance. 😉

Can you see it sliding past on the linear track?!

The sequence of this process is as follows:

First, the workpiece is picked from the feeder, then loaded into the turning center for machining. Once the first stage is complete, it is unloaded onto a conveyor and transferred to the next process. Then, the transferred secondary workpiece is loaded into the turning center, and once finished, it is unloaded onto a pallet.

Furthermore, this entire work process can be monitored through a Smart Work Status Panel. Thanks to this, it’s possible to link with a Smart Factory setup and perform optimal process management! 😉

2. Engine Block Part Transfer using Kawasaki BT200L and Linear Track

*The estimated price includes only the system cost excluding the robot. A full system turnkey project including the robot is also possible.

 Click the image to view more details.

The second case is an application using a Kawasaki BT200L and a gantry linear module to automatically transfer engine blocks between processes.

Usually, transfer tasks for high-load products exceeding dozens of kilograms, like engine blocks, have the disadvantage of taking a relatively long time. In this case, because the robot automatically transfers the engine block in sequence, the logistics transfer time has been shortened compared to the existing process, and the risk of safety accidents that can occur while moving heavy products has been significantly lowered.

In the past, there were inconveniences due to inefficient cart movement paths, but thanks to the professional solution from the provider, SP Systems, the logistics flow was changed efficiently.

A wider working radius and more efficient work paths! Introducing one robot automation brings multiple benefits; it’s truly killing two birds with one stone. 😎

 Click the image to view more details.

In addition to these two cases, Marosol has various other application cases that apply linear tracks.

The case above performs the task of stacking items transferred by a linear track conveyor according to their category using a 6-axis articulated robot. By attaching vision to the end of a small robot arm, it recognizes workpiece information and stacks it in the appropriate location.

Above all, because the linear track allows for a wide working radius, inbound/outbound inventory management has become much more convenient. 😊

Machining assist for WIA Turning Center hydraulic fittings that increased production efficiency by moving on a conveyor linear track:

✅ One robot works on three machine tools.

✅ Layout optimization can be performed according to the number of machining units.

✅ Minimized footprint and maximized space utilization by installing the robot on top of the machine tools.

✅ Accessibility for maintenance is secured as the front of the machine tool is exposed.

✅ Optimal factory management is possible by monitoring through the Smart Work Status Panel.

Engine block part transfer that minimized cycle time using a gantry linear module:

✅ Shortened transfer time and improved efficiency for high-load workpieces.

✅ Prevention of safety accidents that may occur during the handling of heavy workpieces.

✅ Prevention of musculoskeletal disorders in workers caused by the loading and unloading process of heavy workpieces.

Both application cases maximized space utilization with an optimal layout using linear tracks and gantries.

It's also notable that they used high-speed, high-precision industrial robots—which are very valuable in robot automation—to minimize the cycle time between loading and unloading tasks. 👀 This is perfect as it also minimizes management points. 👍

Flashing here and there on the linear tracks—they are like the "Hong Gil-dong" (a famous teleporting folk hero) of the robot automation world, aren't they? This is a refreshing change from previous application cases that always worked well but felt a bit slow!

However, since there are robot automation cases suitable for each specific task, remember that high speed is not always the only answer! If you are wondering which work would suit your process best, feel free to use Marosol's free consultation. 😊

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