MACHINING COMPONENTS SPEED ASSEMBLY
1 min read
The recently introduced robolink D direct drive articulated arm is claimed by manufacturer igus to be a tougher, more durable solution compared with remote drive versions. Supporting lean automation, typical robotic applications are repetitive tasks, such as on assembly lines and pick-and-place equipment.
To support this, the system is completely modular due to the direct drive situated within each joint, which helps achieve significant cost savings.
The robolink is driven by a worm gear drive and a NEMA 17 or 23 stepper motor directly in the joint; these can be easily controlled using any commercially available control module. Based on self-lubricating iglidur PRT slewing ring bearings, robolink D system is available in three sizes, which can be combined to create articulated arms from one to as many as six degrees of freedom.
The sea-water resistant, maintenance and corrosion-free bearings of the robolink D makes it equally well-suited to a variety of other applications, ranging from underwater vehicle operations to humanoid robots for explosive equipment handling.
With plastic bearing experience since 1964, cable carrier experience since 1971 and continuous-flex cable since 1989, igus claims to provide the right solution based on 100,000 products available from stock with between 1,500 and 2,500 new products introduction each year
Readers can watch videos describing many igus offerings at www.igus.co.uk/YouTube. Alternative information can be gleaned from the company blog at blog.igus.co.uk.
