Category: Robotics Applications

Elevate Your Production and Learn More About KUKA Robot Arms

Joe Kaminski 1 Comment

KUKA Robotics

Updated August 2019: You can purchase KUKA products, including KUKA arms, directly from our website.

MRO Electric and Supply distributes a variety of new and refurbished KUKA Robot arms.

We repaint and rebuild all of our refurbished KUKA arms, as well as purge and replace the grease according to the manufacturer’s specifications.

KUKA Robot Arm Models

We supply KUKA arms and wrists from a number of robots. We have included some popular KUKA robot models in our inventory below:

  • KR30
  • KR60
  • KR90
  • KR150
  • KR180
  • KR360
  • KR500
  • Any Many More!

About KUKA Robotic Arms

Most KUKA robotic arms are made up of 4-6 joints, and can be used for many different applications such as welding, material handling, material removal, and more. Because KUKA arms are so large, they are typically used to lift heavy payloads and are sometimes run by hydraulic and pneumatic methods. Most KUKA robot arms are made from aluminum and built from the base up, ending with the wrist and whichever end effect is needed to help the arm perform its given application.

KUKA was one of the first companies to use aluminum in robot arm design, which makes KUKA arm manipulators one of the fastest and lightest on the market. They also introduced a horizontal balancing spring on axis 2 before the other robot manufacturers, a design that has now been widely adopted.

Even if you are new to programming, you can explore different intuitive programming options to find out what will work best for you. KUKA robotic arms can be programmed in multiple ways including using KUKA’s own robot language, through hand guiding, a handheld probe, graphical offline programming and more.

MRO Electric and Supply has a warehouse full of many types of KUKA arms and wrists. Give us a call today if you need a replacement and we can usually ship you one same-day! You can also email sales@mroelectric.com for a quote.

Kawasaki E3/E7/E9 Controllers

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Being a leader of the robotics industry for over 50 years, Kawasaki has developed one of the most complete lines of e-controllers on the market. All of these controllers are suited with a wide array of features including:

  • High powered CPU performence
  • Large, easy to use LCD Display
  • Optimized key layout
  • Easily accessible safety switches

The E76/77 family of controllers are very compact and used for smaller robot arms. One of these arms are the RS003N Robot, which has a maximum payload of 3kg and has horizontal and vertical reaches of 620mm and 967mm, respectively. The controllers with these robots specialize in assembly and material handling applications.

The E9 family of robotic teach pedants are also built very compact, however these devices are typically used in medium-duty applications. Unlike the other two families of controllers, the E9 family features an open structure system with a direct cooling system. However, like the E7 and E3 families, the enclosed structure with indirect cooling is an available option. The E9 family takes full advantage of the digital servo drive powering it to have a maximum payload capacity of 40kg.

E30/32/33/34 controllers at their base are very alike the E76/77 controllers but with more power. These devices are not as compact as the previous devices we have discussed, however the reason being they are highly expandable and are easier to maintain. Features such as Kawasaki’s K-Logic sequencer software allow the addition of up to 16 total controllable axes. The E3 family of Kawasaki e-controllers are able to handle the following maximum payloads:

  • E30 – 145 kg
  • E32 – 180 kg
  • E33 – 195 kg
  • E34 – 180 kg

If you are interested in learning how to purchase the robot arm, the controller, or any other part/device that goes into an industrial robotic set-up, please call MRO Electric and Supply at (800)691-8511 or email us at sales@mroelectric.com and we will help you get what you need.

3HAC028357-001

ABB Robotics 3HAC028357-001 Teach Pendant

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The 3HAC028357-001 is a modern ABB Robotics Teach Pendant designed to be used with the IRC5 Industrial Robot Control, one of the most popular robotics controls on the market. Also known as the “FlexPendant”, the 3HAC028357-001 is characterized by its clean, color touch screen-based design and 3D joystick for intuitive interaction.

The 3HAC028357-001 TPU (or teach pendant unit) is a hand held operator unit used to perform many of the tasks involved when operating a robot system: running programs, jogging the manipulator, modifying robot programs and so on.

The FlexPendant is designed for continuous operation in harsh industrial environment. Its touch screen is easy to clean and resistant to water, oil and accidental welding splashes.

ABB FlexPendant

The 3HAC028357-001 replaces the legacy 3HAC023195-001 teach pendant.

The standard cost for a new ABB 3HAC028357-001 direct from the manufacturer or authorized distributor is typically in the $6000-7,000 range. MRO Electric is able to supply these pendants at a much lower price point, and we warranty all of our robotics parts for 12 months.

If you would like a free quote on a replacement ABB 3HAC028357-001, please email us at sales@mroelectric.com or call 800-691-8511.

Motoman Teach Pendants And More

Brian Hughes 2 Comments

Yaskawa Motoman, an American subsidiary of Yaskawa Electric Corporation, was founded in 1989 and since then have been able to get over 380,000 industrial robots, 10 million servos, and 18 million drives into automation systems around the world. Robots are the wave of the future and Yaskawa Motoman is at the top of this market. Using an automated robotic system in your work space will allow you to free up many other costs and resources that may not have been available before.  The key to efficiency is simplicity and using  Motoman Teach Pendants to give instructions to your robot makes that possible.

Teach Pendants are non-tethered devices that allow your robot to be controlled remotely. These devices are crucial for industrial robotics as they are not only used for assigning operations but they are able to edit commands, emergency stop commands, and even view past operations. Motoman Teach Pendants are split between the older models(ERC, XRC, MRC) and the newer models(DX and NX Series’).

MRC

The older models such as the MRC, which came out in 1994, were able to increase the workload of an industrial robot by up to 300%. This was also the first time ever that a single teach pendant was able to control two robots at the same time. Four years later when the XRC model was released, it was a huge improvement as Motoman was able to add control of more axes and even up its synchronous control of two robots to four industrial robots.

nx100

Later in 2004, the NX series of controllers was released. These devices featured Windows CE with a high-power processor, back-lit color touchscreen, built-in ethernet, and a huge amount of memory. A single teach pendant can control up to 36 axes and 4 separate robots. It’s Advanced Robot Motion control allows for the most accurate results. For information about the DX series, please visit one of our previous blog posts featuring the DX200 controller and Yaskawa’s new ArcWorld project.

Looking inside the ArcWorld 6000 and DX200 Controller

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Yaskawa’s ArcWorld 6000 line of robotic welding systems offer the most cost efficient and powerful solution to your welding needs. ArcWorlds are pre-built, easy to install, and ready to run immediately after installation. The units can configured with multiple robots, a heavy duty positioner or servo controlled external axes. The 6000 line can handle payloads from 755 kg to 1255 kg over a 2 or 3 meter span.  There are many other cool benefits to running the ArcWorld over a traditional welding system:

  • All controllers and power sources are installed and shipped on the frame for minimal setup
  • The world class MA1440 arc used for welding can be combined with multiple robots to cut cycle time by 15%
  • Twist locking connectors for all cabling
  • Fully compliant with most recent robot safety standards (ANSI/RIA R15.06-2012)
  • A standard workcell is only documented and supported by Yaskawa Motoman

arcworld 6000

The RM2-Series Positioners are are powered with three AC servo motor drives and have a payload capacity of 1555 on each side. With a 6.5 second rapid indexing time, the positioners have a part length between 3000mm and 3500mm. Convenient slip ring built for  the fixture of utilites such as Ethernet and DeviceNet. The positioner uses MotoMount mounting technology inside of the Yaskawa ArcWorld Unit.

Typically used inside of the ArcWorld 6000 line is the DX200 controller. These controllers can coordinate motion between 8 robots with up to 72 axes. Its Advanced Robot Motion control gives the ArcWorld unit the ability to use the arc’s at their peak performance with pinpoint precision. DX200 controllers are available with Cat 3 Functional Safety Unit. Maintenance is hardly necessary as these controllers efficiently use energy and use top of the line prevention methods for most types of failures. Contact Yaskawa Motoman right now to inquiry on price options for different ArcWorld models and make your automation system perform at its best.

dx200

KUKA teach pendant

KUKA Teach Pendants

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MRO Electric and Supply distributes a variety of KUKA Teach Pendants for KRC1, KRC2, and KRC3 controls. We also can supply the new KRC4 smartPAD. The smartPAD pendant  is the latest type of KUKA teach pendant, designed to allow users to perform even the most complex operating tasks with ease – even those with little experience.  It features an 8.4″ display size with a industrial touch screen.

KUKA smartPAD Teach Pendant

The ergonomic design of the KUKA smartPAD creates a pendant with reduced weight and an anatomically comfortable operation. It can be used to operate all KUKA robots that have a KR C4 controller. Its 6D mouse allows for movement and reorientation of the robot on all axes.

All smartPADs are programmed using the KRL – KUKA programming language. This easy to learn robotics language is very intuitive, and can be used to create customized robotic motions with ease. You can also synchronize your programming with up to 6 KUKA robots. The other major benefit of the smartPAD teach pendant is that  it can be hot swapped at any time from a KR C4 controller – just simply plug it in and use.

Legacy KUKA Teach Pendants

MRO Electric also distributes a number of legacy KUKA teach pendants. We recognize that there are still a variety of older KUKA controllers still in use today. Rather than having to upgrade your control system when one of your pendants fail, we can ship you a replacement pendant to minimize any downtime.

If for some reason our stock is depleted, we can usually repair your KUKA pendant in as little as 3-5 days. Visit our main KUKA product page to see all the KUKA teach pendants that we can supply or repair.

For more information or to request a quote on a replacement pendant or panel, please call 800-691-8511 or email sales@mroelectric.com.

Factory Automation and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Advances

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fanuc robotics

 Factory Automation and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Advances

As technology evolves, automation has become more and more prevalent in the factory automation space. Machine-to-machine enables private and exclusive communication and control over sensors, cameras, industrial equipment, robotics (check out our FANUC Robotics parts) and essentially anything else. Manufactory facilities and several other remote systems are managed much more easily with machine-to-machine advances in communication.

Initially, with industrial and enterprise applications as a focal point, machine-to-machine communication was easily defined and used for a limited amount of tasks. Nowadays, there are many fewer limitations associated with the machine-to-machine communication.

Pressured to lower costs and improve speed and overall efficiency, factory automation companies are often in an uncomfortable spot. While using high-end, sophisticated automation applications and tools, more real-time data must be obtained to streamline more of the day-to-day operations and tasks. Implementing machine-to-machine solutions can help with operational efficiency gains, time and cost savings, and performance optimization.

From a cellular standpoint, machine-to-machine solutions enable integration of environmental controls into a single system, and to unify with security and video surveillance systems. All and all, companies are able to secure several properties from anywhere they wish to, even as they fine-tune power efficiency and decrease operating expenses.

Due to the immense increase of machine-operated plants in companies who rely on keeping critical assets and functions performing optimally, several companies are exploring options associated with a machine-to-machine communication. Of the many benefits, the fact that it’s able to deliver remote access to gather real-time process data to cut operation costs is often one of the most well-recognized. The ability to identify and rectify production line faults, or design and implement preventative maintenance strategies, for example, is what machine-to-machine communication is designed for.

Involving data exchange over the telephone line or via the internal with machines, plants, computers for issue detection, diagnostics, and repair, teleservice is an imperative aspect of machine-to-machine communication. Offering an optimal answer to diagnose distant systems, teleservice is becoming more and more popular and is not going anywhere.

Telecontrol, another aspect of machine-to-machine communication, deals with connections of distant process stations to one or more central control systems. Many networks, both public and private,  can be used for communication used to control. For these diverse applications and businesses, cellular M2M connectivity can address many business and technical challenges and enable important benefits.

MRO Electric and Supply has new and refurbished FANUC parts available. We also offer repair pricing. For more information, please call 800-691-8511 or email sales@mroelectric.com.

Additionally, M2M systems can be designed to withstand harsh environmental conditions and easily manage and control connected devices across the country or around the world. M2M systems provide flexibility to move equipment as needed, or bring up and tear down systems quickly for temporary or seasonal deployments. By using modern M2M management and application platforms, and taking care to choose platforms designed to meet real-world requirements, organizations can take full advantage of the M2M revolution.

In case you were wondering, machine-to-machine systems are indeed designed to withstand environmental conditions and easily control connected devices in any location. They are flexible and can move equipment with ease. In order to use machine-to-machine communication optimally, look into management and application platforms. Click here to view our article on IT and Robotics.