Intelligent bin picking will be demonstrated at IMTS using latest robot equipped with an integrated 3D laser vision sensor; the robot loads picked parts to a machining center, then unloads.FANUC Robotics America's new R-2000iB robot equipped with the new R-J3iC Controller and iRVision will demonstrate intelligent bin picking during IMTS 2006 at McCormick Place in Chicago, USA. At the show, the new R-2000iB/165F intelligent robot will locate and pick parts from a bin using the integrated iRVision 3D laser vision sensor. The robot will then load the parts to the FANUC aT14iEL Robodrill for processing, unload finished parts and place them in an output bin.
'The iRVision 3D vision system enables the intelligent robot to determine part location and orientation in the bin so that the parts can be robotically picked up and properly placed back in the bin,' said Mark Handelsman, FANUC Robotics' manager of industry marketing.
'We are showing manufacturers how easy and practical robot vision can be.' He claimed: 'This is a breakthrough application that bundles 3D vision technology into a solution that is extremely reliable and easy to setup and use.
Bin picking has historically been a very challenging robotic process, now made possible by FANUC's intelligent robot technology.' * New R-2000iB Intelligent Robot - supported by the new R-J3iC Controller, the R-2000iB features enhanced intelligent functions and motion performance, industry-leading reliability, and easy maintenance.
The R-2000iB offers multiple model variations, including a 165kg base model, a high payload version, and a rack-mount model.
A slim arm and wrist assembly helps minimize interference with system equipment and allows the robot to operate in small workspaces.
* New R-J3iC Controller - he new R-J3iC robot controller uses high-performance hardware and the latest control technology, providing a level of intelligence never offered before.
Advanced vibration control allows the R-2000iB to accelerate and decelerate very quickly, reducing cycle time by approximately five percent compared to current robot models.
For spot welding applications, the R-J3iC automatically optimizes servo-gun and robot motion, reducing the R-2000iB's cycle time by as much as 15%, which provides significant improvements in throughput and productivity.
* Enhanced intelligent functions - the R-2000iB offers a variety of intelligent function enhancements including Robot Link, which controls and coordinates up to ten robots through a network exchange of robot positional data.
In addition, with the new Radar Monitoring function for multiple robots (available later this year), the R-2000iB exchanges current positional data and robot motion information to prevent interference in multi-robot applications.
'Typically, in multi-robot applications, a customer is required to set up a very complex interlock system between the robots,' said Claude Dinsmoor, general manager, controller software product development, FANUC Robotics America.
'The multi-arm and multi-robot enhancements of the R-J3iC can eliminate many complex interlocking systems, reducing the cost and simplifying the operation of multiple robots.' * iRVision - integrated vision - FANUC Robotics' new iRVision, is an easy to use, integrated robot vision option for the new FANUC R-J3iC Controller.
The iRVision System is the company's first built-in vision package that is available on all R-J3iC controllers, providing customers a single source for robot guidance or process feedback.
The FANUC iRVision system is a ready-to-use robotic vision package, requiring only a camera and cable - no additional processing hardware.
It has a 2D robot guidance tool to accomplish part location, error proofing, and other operations that normally require special sensors or custom fixtures.
'The new iRVision system raises the bar for the integration of machine vision to robotics, providing a new level of robot intelligence with significant cost reductions and quality benefits,' said Edward Roney, FANUC Robotics' manager of vision product development.
'We have taken the complexity out of robot vision, eliminating the need to combine a separate vision system with the robot controller.
Now, a customer simply plugs in a camera and cable to a dedicated vision port on the robot's main CPU, and the system is ready to go to work.' FANUC Robotics first introduced robot guidance systems in 1984.
Since that time, the company has installed thousands of vision products worldwide in a variety of applications including assembly, machine tending, palletizing, error proofing, and packaging.
Roney said: 'In the early 1980's, several robot companies supplied vision systems; however, when most robot suppliers stopped offering vision as part of their product line, we continued to view vision as an important complement to robotics.
This unique understanding of the use and benefits of machine vision with robotics has lead to the development of advanced robot vision systems such as iRVision.' * Compatibility with R-2000iA - the R-2000iB intelligent robot is compatible with its predecessor, the R-2000iA.
The new robot has the same workspace, installation, mounting interface, operation, and robot programming as the R-2000iA.
This extensive compatibility makes it extremely easy to replace the R-2000iA with the R-2000iB.
'The R-2000iB is an evolved, multi-purpose, intelligent robot that meets the ever-changing automation needs of manufacturers,' said Dinsmoor.
'In material handling applications and others, the R-2000iB and its complete array of intelligent functions provide higher uptime and productivity, combined with easy operation.' * About FANUC Robotics America - FANUC Robotics America designs, engineers and manufactures industrial robots and robotic systems for a wide range of applications including arc and spot welding, material handling (machine tending, picking, packing, palletizing), material removal, assembly, paint finishing and dispensing.
The company also provides application-specific software, controls, vision products, and complete support services.
After 24 years of success, FANUC Robotics maintains its position as the leading robotics company in the Americas.
A subsidiary of FANUC in Japan, the company has facilities in Chicago; Los Angeles; Charlotte, North Carolina; Cincinnati and Toledo, Ohio; Toronto; Montreal; Aguascalientes, Mexico; and Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Over 155,000 FANUC robots are installed worldwide.
* FANUC Robotics America at IMTS, Chicago, USA, September 6-13, Booth A-8418