Nabtesco upgrade for the robot controller
Gear effects have a strong influence on the path accuracy of robots. However, control system manufacturers usually have to laboriously determine the corresponding compensation parameters due to a lack of transparency. This is at the expense of the robot's accuracy. Nabtesco is therefore the first gearbox manufacturer in the robotics sector to work with an expert in robot control systems, KEBA AG from Austria. The goal: industrial robots with the highest accuracy available on the market as well as smart solutions for digital transformation in production.
Learn more about KEBA
Hybridization of the cycloidal gears
Naturally, every gearbox behaves slightly differently in operation. However, the gearbox manufacturers' data sheets usually only contain general values. This is sufficient for most applications, but sets limits in terms of precision. Nabtesco has therefore decided to take the next step and open up the gearbox black box. By providing model and specimen-specific gearbox data and linking it to digital services, new and fascinating possibilities for industrial automation are opening up.
A new era for robotics:
- Precision on a new level
- Previously unattainable performance
- Opening up additional fields of application
- Realization of modern maintenance concepts
Robots with the precision of a machine tool
Machine tools are still the leaders when it comes to precision. But robots could soon challenge them for this top spot thanks to the targeted integration of gear-specific data and characteristics - directly from the manufacturer - into the robot controller. With a Nabtesco add-on for the robot controller, robot accuracy can be increased by a factor of 9. In future, high-precision handling and machining tasks can be carried out robot-based with the precision of a machine tool. This offers maximum flexibility with the same quality.
High-precision robots:
- Targeted integration of gearbox-specific data and characteristics into the robot controller
- Path accuracy of less than 0.1 millimetres
- Robot-based solutions for the highest accuracy requirements
- Know-how from the world market leader for robot gearboxes
Digital twin in the robot controller
Predictive maintenance with the help of condition monitoring is of central importance for Industry 4.0. Real serial number-related gearbox data plays a central role on the way to real-time monitoring of robots, as it enables an individual snapshot of robot utilization and thus a consideration of the remaining service life of the individual gearboxes. Through a combination of digital gearbox models and corresponding algorithms in the robot controller, it will be possible in future to permanently monitor the gearbox status and thus detect impending failures at an early stage. The result: fail-safe cycloidal gears, maximum efficiency and reliability as well as predictable maintenance work.
Smart cycloidal gears for IIoT applications:
- High-tech drives for intelligent production
- Consideration of the service life of each individual axis in real time
- More efficient production processes
- Reduced machine downtimes
- Increased productivity
- Reduced maintenance costs
Download: Whitepaper "Gearbox design for 6-axis robots"
Just like humans, robots need flexible "joints" that ideally remain fully functional into old age. In our white paper "Gearbox design for 6-axis robots", you can find out what is important when selecting and designing the right gearbox and what designers need to bear in mind.
Download Whitepaper
Software instead of sensors
Compared to intelligent sensor technology, the software-based solution offers numerous advantages, including cost reduction, reduced system complexity and better data quality. Another point: not all data can be recorded using external sensors. This applies, for example, to stiffness - and of course the empirical values from development. Nabtesco carries out extensive tests before a gearbox is launched on the market and therefore knows exactly how the gearbox behaves when it wears out or what influence temperature and lubricant have. All these parameters are incorporated into the robot control system.
Your advantages:
The cycloidal gearbox of the future
The future of industrial production requires smart, intelligent solutions. With the new digital services, Nabtesco is making the cycloidal gearbox fit for the requirements of modern production and ushering in a new era for robotics. Two levels are planned: a Nabtesco add-on with generalized data of a specific gearbox model and an additional upgrade for even greater accuracy with the specific data of the gearboxes ultimately installed.
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