One-System Robot-Compatibility Solution

In April 2019, OnRobot released a Digital I/O Converter Kit that enables the company’s end-of-arm tools (EoAT) to work with brands including Universal Robots, KUKA, FANUC, Doosan, Techman, Yaskawa, Mitsubishi, Kawasaki, and Nachi. Building on that concept, OnRobot’s new unified mechanical, electrical, and communications interface further simplifies the process of automating applications.

The one-system solution is based on the Quick Changer, a single cable that eliminates the need to disconnect cables when changing tools by incorporating a universal interface for tools and communications. Now  standard on all OnRobot products, the platform gives manufacturers access to a full range of tools, full robot compatibility, and virtually unlimited possibilities for collaborative applications. A Dual Quick Changer allows the use of two tools in one cycle, mixing and matching to maximize robot utilization.

“The benefits of robotics are routinely hindered because of systems’ limited versatility,” says Remy Glaisner, research director for Intelligent Operational Systems and Robotics at IDC. “Actuation capabilities are therefore critical to the applicability of solutions across various  manufacturing use-cases. An adaptable end-effector solution enables a new level of nimble operational effectiveness.”

For Universal Robots (UR) robot arms, the URCap allows all tools to work together in a single program. For example, with the Dual Quick Changer, manufacturers can use an RG2 two-finger gripper together with a VG10 vacuum gripper in one cycle to increase utilization of one UR robot. Thanks to the unified programming solution, setup time on UR robots is now faster than ever.

There’s also a fieldbus solution for other robot brands. All OnRobot products have a unified communication platform using standard fieldbus protocols, making it easy to program the tools regardless of robot brand. With the new fieldbus protocols, manufacturers can easily set software values and use more functions via a standard Ethernet cable, supporting an increased level of sophistication with a simple plug-and-produce approach that doesn’t require additional cables. Deployment time can be cut from 3 hours to 30 minutes.

WebLogic for Digital I/O for any type of robots: For robots that connect through digital I/O, the one-system solution includes a WebLogic interface. Using the IP address of the OnRobot Compute Box, manufacturers can sign in via the OnRobot WebClient from a phone or any other network-connected device to monitor the robot or create simple robot programs. Manufacturers can preset values and create elaborate programming logic using the feedback values from OnRobot grippers and sensors to provide finer control. This makes OnRobot tools compatible with an even broader range of robot arms and helps manufacturers get their collaborative application up and running quickly.

“Manufacturers are demanding more from their robotic applications, and end-of-arm tooling has become the key to optimizing their investments,” says OnRobot CEO Enrico Krog Iversen. “Integrating the Quick Changer across our product lineup makes it easier than ever to switch between tools and robot types, providing flexibility and reducing downtime for more efficient production and faster automation. This makes it easy, fast, and cost-effective to build collaborative applications no matter which robots a manufacturer chooses.”

OnRobot US Inc., 222 Las Colinas Boulevard W, Suite 854E, Irving, TX 75039, 469-442-9370, www.onrobot.com.