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ABB's smallest six-axis robot promises 35% faster cycle times

25 October, 2019

ABB has announced its smallest, lightest robot to date. It says that the new IRB 1100 machine weighs 20% less, has a 10% smaller footprint, and will cut cycle times by 35% compared to previous models, thus boosting productivity. It also offers “best-in-class repeatable accuracy”.

The robot, designed for fast, accurate assembly of small parts, is available in two variants: one with a 4kg payload and a 475mm reach; the other with a 4kg payload and a 580mm reach. It is aimed, in particular, at manufacturers in the semiconductor, pharmaceutical and electronics sectors, that need to handle small and often delicate parts, while working at speed and maintaining both high productivity and quality. ABB plans to certify the new robot for cleanroom applications in the future.

The new robot has a slimmer body than previous robot generations, allowing it to be  deployed flexibly in confined spaces and into existing automation lines. It also allows more flexible handling of heavy loads using complex tools or end-effectors.

“Manufacturers today need to squeeze every drop of value out of their factories – from their automation systems and even their floor space,” says Steven Wyatt, head of portfolio and digital for ABB’s Robotics & Discrete Automation business. “The IRB 1100 is designed to support both these imperatives and create opportunities to maximise the efficiency of every single centimetre of production space. This is ABB’s most compact and lightweight robot ever, and a great addition to our small parts assembly solutions portfolio.”

ABB IRB 1100 robot is said to deliver 35% faster cycle times

The IRB 1100 is also among the first of a new generation of robots based on ABB’s new flexible design which will help introduce a wider variety of robot sizes and variants that can be combined to form tailored installations.

Accompanying the robot is a new controller, called OmniCore, equipped with advanced motion control capabilities, making it ideal for supporting rapid assembly, pick-and-place and materials-handling applications.




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