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FlexiBowl® 350C/CC can feed products of any geometry, surface and material.
It is compatible with all industrial robots and vision systems. One FlexiBowl® can feed entire ranges of parts measuring 1 to 20 mm and weighing up to 40 g, replacing the need for the numerous units used in conventional systems.

FlexiBowl® 350	

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FlexiBowl® feeds the widest range of components in the market, regardless of geometry, surface, and material.

Compatible with 99.9% of parts

In the ever-changing manufacturing business, FlexiBowl® is the answer to:

Evolutionary technology for quick product changeovers

No advanced programming skills are required to start feeding components with FlexiBowl®.

Rapid, intuitive integration

FlexiBowl®'s main strength is its efficient concept, continuously innovated by our engineers.

Designed on efficiency

Automated ball bearing assembly

Automatisierte Kugellagermontage

Spritzguss

Injection molding

注塑成型

injection-molding

In this video, we present an advanced solution for the automated assembly of ball bearings in production. The setup of the gantry system and the integration of the Epson Scara are shown, as well as the operation of the rotary conveyor and the Variobotic shaker cameras for precise detection and positioning of the ball bearing components. The Schunk and Schmalz grippers are demonstrated in action, handling the ball bearings safely and efficiently. The step feeder supports the process with its precise conveying technique, ensuring that the entire system operates smoothly and efficiently thanks to reliable power and data transmission. The benefits of this solution include increased production speed, reduced scrap, and improved workplace safety. Additionally, a low footprint is ensured, facilitating integration into various production environments.

Produktion

Manufacturing

Production

製造業

Fabricação

Productie

Produkcja

การผลิต

制造业

Üretim

제조

Produzione

manufacturing

Automated insertion into injection molding machine

Automatisiertes Einlegen in Spritzgussmaschine

In this video, we demonstrate the use of an automated system for inserting components into an injection molding machine. This innovative solution optimizes the production process and significantly increases efficiency.

The operation of the insertion process is shown step by step, demonstrating the precise positioning and handling of the components. The seamless integration of the insertion system into the existing injection molding machine will then be demonstrated, including the communication interfaces and control logic.

The benefits of this solution include increasing production speed and accuracy, reducing scrap and material waste, and improving worker safety by minimizing manual intervention.

An important aspect here is maintaining a low footprint.

Automated material handling with igus room gantry

Automatisiertes Materialhandling mit igus Raumportal

Pick & Place

Pick-and-Place

Al ve yerleştir

拾取&放置

픽 앤 플레이스

ピック&プレース

Pick &amp: Place

取放 (揀選 & 放置)

Pick and place

หยิบและวาง

pick-n-place

In automation technology, 3-finger grippers are of great importance due to their adaptability and precision when handling a wide variety of objects. A recent customer test examined the performance of such a gripper when picking up components from a fixture and assembling them.

The 3-finger gripper demonstrated high precision in picking and reliable assembly of the components. The speed of the process and the low error rate confirmed the suitability of the gripper for production use.

The test underlined the advantages of the 3-finger gripper in terms of flexibility and reliability, making it a valuable component for automated assembly processes. The results support the integration of the gripper into existing and new production lines to further increase efficiency.

Automated parts handling with igus room gantry

Automatisiertes Teilehandling mit igus Raumportal

Pick and place applications are a central component of modern production processes, especially in automation technology. They make it possible to pick up objects precisely and place or assemble them at a defined location. This process is particularly relevant for the assembly of small, lightweight components such as plastic lids.

The test is intended to evaluate the efficiency and precision of the pick and place application when picking up and assembling plastic lids. Particular attention will be paid to the speed of the process, the error rate and integration into existing production lines.

The application consists of a pick and place robot equipped with a gripper system specially designed for plastic lids. The robotic arm is able to pick up the lids at high speed and place them on the corresponding containers by pushing the lid into the opening.

The pick and place application for picking up and fitting plastic lids shows that significant improvements in production efficiency can be achieved through the use of robotics and automation technology. The results of the customer test confirm the potential of this technology to optimize modern production processes and increase competitiveness.

igus robolink - pick & place in a three-shift operation

Pick & Place-Roboter im 3-Schichtbetrieb

易格斯robolink - 三班倒执行拾放任务

igus robolink - 3교대 작업에 사용되는 픽 앤 플레이스

igus robolink - pick & place in een drieploegendienst

igus 機器手臂robolink - 在三班操作中拾放零件

Handhabung

Material handling

Manuseio de materiais

Malzeme taşıma

Przeładunek materiałów

Manipulación de materiales

倉儲物流

物料搬运

Materiaal handling

ระบบจัดการสินค้า

물류 산업

Movimentazione dei materiali

マテリアルハンドリング

Manipulation

material-handling

Medium-sized industrial companies are confronted with high automation pressure. Robotics does not have to be expensive. A pick-and-place robot that paid for itself in record time shows how to get started cost-effectively and at low risk.

Automation with low-cost robotics helps industrial companies increase productivity and achieve consistent product quality. This is demonstrated by an injection molding system for bearing caps at the Cologne-based company igus. Whereas employees used to have to insert the plastic spherical caps into the machine by hand, this task is now performed by robolink - a robotic arm with four degrees of freedom and a reach of 510 millimeters. The arm picks up the calottes with a gripper and places them in the machine, with a repeatability of 0.5 millimeters and at a speed of 0.25 m/s. After overmolding with fiberglass-reinforced plastic and automatic ejection of the component, the process starts again. 250,000 times per year and in three-shift operation.

"With manual monotonous work in industry, there is a risk of employees becoming tired and product quality suffering due to operating errors. With the help of the introduction of low-cost robotics, we have succeeded in relieving employees and further increasing product quality," says Norman Franke, Head of Automation Injection Molding at igus. "In addition, the productivity of the injection molding machine has increased because the system continues to run even when employees are on break."

Low Cost Robotic: Investment pays off after approx. four months

The advance of robots does not have to be expensive. Quite the opposite. In this case, it is so inexpensive that even small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can experiment with automation and jump on the Industry 4.0 bandwagon. For example, a robolink costs from 2,766 euros - hardly more than a powerful home computer and many times less than comparable robot arms, which cost tens of thousands of euros. The reason for the price is that many components of the robotic arm, such as the gearbox, are not made of metal but of triboplastics. The controller from Commonplace Robotics costs 1,897 euros, and a parallel gripper from Schunk costs around 100 euros. "The bottom line is that investing in such a low-cost robotic solution is low-risk," Franke says. "We achieved the return on investment in about four months."

For industrial companies, the pressure to automate is becoming stronger

According to the online portal Statista, manufacturers sold 381,000 industrial robots worldwide in 2017 - for handling, assembling and processing workpieces. By 2021, this figure is expected to reach 630,000. The benefits of advancing automation are enormous: With their help, industry could generate additional value added of 1.25 trillion euros in 2025, predicts the Federation of German Industries (BDI). Not only because companies will become more productive, but also more flexible and individual. The key words are Industry 4.0 and batch size one.

The problem is that while sectors such as the automotive and aerospace industries are increasingly benefiting from automation and networking, many SMEs are reluctant to do so. Not only for cost reasons. It's also because of the complex interplay of components from different manufacturers - including mechatronics, control systems and software. In addition, acceptance among employees is often low because they fear job losses.

Leading robotics manufacturers united in one kit

Removing these obstacles is one of the goals of RBTX - a marketplace for low-cost robotics that unites manufacturers of robotics components in a construction kit. The electro-mechanical basic framework is formed by robots from igus, among others - including jointed-arm robots, delta robots and Cartesian robots. This basis can be expanded with individual components from various manufacturers, such as grippers, cameras, interactive software, power electronics, motors, sensors and controllers. Customers can put together a robot solution with just a few clicks. Compatibility is guaranteed, explains Franke: "Companies enjoy investment security because we have assembled all the components in various combinations and tested them in detail."

The low-cost robotic solution used in the injection molding machine from igus enjoys acceptance among employees. Because it was clear from the start: The transformation optimizes the production process, but does not lead to job losses. Because employees who previously had to struggle with monotonous tasks took part in a training course. They learned how to operate the robotic arm and even teach it new movement sequences. A three-day training course was all it took. "The control system from Commonplace Robotics was originally educational software and is child's play to operate - without any programming knowledge," Franke emphasizes. "The employees are enthusiastic about the technology because it not only simplifies the work, but also makes it fun."

Low maintenance and quick repairs: robolink ensures cost-effective operation

The automation of the injection molding system was not only cost-effective to purchase, but is also cost-effective to operate. This is because the robolink robot arm is made of tribopolymers, which enable dry running without lubricants. Accordingly, there are no costs for materials and maintenance. And repairs are also comparatively simple. To help technicians help themselves, repair instructions are documented on the Internet. In addition, RBTX offers spare parts supply within 24 hours. Franke: "It has actually never been easier to get into automation."

FlexiBowl® 350

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