Kuka has unveiled the new generation of its KR Cybertech nano series of industrial robot. (See video below.)
Kuka says the robot is specialised for continuous-path applications such as arc welding, adhesive bonding or sealant application, and calls it the KR Cybertech nano Arc family.
The company adds that, in the low payload category, the robots deliver maximum performance at minimal costs.
The KR Cybertech nano Arc product family is “setting new standards”, says Kuka, adding that the new generation of robots is “outstandingly agile, extremely fast and even more precise than its predecessors in continuous-path applications”.
The upgraded 50-millimeter Kuka hollow-wrist reduces main axis motion, allowing short cycle times combined with utmost precision in motion.
The new hollow-wrist robots from Kuka also feature repeatability of 0.04 millimeters, even at high speeds. This makes the KR Cybertech nano Arc hollow-wrist robots predestined experts for applications requiring maximum precision and path accuracy – such as arc welding and applying adhesives or sealants.
The series is characterized by its long service life and the lowest maintenance requirements in the low payload category. For users, the total cost of ownership is reduced to a minimum.
This includes low operating costs due to maximum availability and reduced energy consumption compared with the predecessor.
In addition to the drive and control technology, the service and maintenance requirements have been optimized. Individual axes, for example, are completely maintenance-free and spare parts are available for up to 25 years.
Thanks to the small footprint and diverse installation options, the hollow-wrist robots are also suitable for compact cells, complex tasks and challenging process chains.
Additional flexibility is provided by the innovative “K-PIPE-ES” energy supply concept with which Kuka customers are already familiar from higher payload categories.
Separation of the system and application cabling makes integration into the production environment even easier and the equipment of the energy supply system more flexible.
Additional axes and the new generation of positioners can be added to the configuration more easily.
The KR Cybertech nano series of the latest generation includes not only the hollow-wrist robots of the KR Cybertech nano Arc family (Arc focus), but also in-line wrist variants (handling focus, also suitable for CP applications).
The digital Kuka.Motion Modes allow the performance of the robots to be adapted to different tasks via the controller, for example with the “Dynamic Mode” for greater dynamic performance with reduced cycle times.
“Path Mode” even comes as standard in the hollow-wrist robots together with so-called absolutely accurate calibration for application-optimized continuous-path motion. Both options are also available for in-line wrist robots.
Markus Hollfelder-Asam, portfolio manager at Kuka, says: “We have developed the series specifically for the latest KR C5 controller generation from Kuka, which taps the full potential of our new overall system.
“Integration of the KR Cybertech nano is really easy for companies thanks to the standardized mounting surfaces for accessories and identical footprint to that of its predecessor.”
The product series also features – as standard – protection against dust and water in accordance with IP 54 for the hollow-wrist robots and even IP 65/67 (main axes/wrist axes) for the in-line wrist robots.
Hollfelder-Asam adds: “No matter what tasks you use the latest-generation KR Cybertech nano Arc for, it offers outstanding results right from the outset and can be optimally adapted using the flexible Kuka.Motion Modes.”
