Screw fastening, assembling, handling
KUKA Systems presents the various fields of use of its mobile robot application system KUKA flexFELLOW at Motek 2015.
17 septembre 2015
“We have been working intensively on versatile production concepts and essential associated components for a long time. Because if you want to remain competitive in the future, your manufacturing process should be fast, flexible and also energy- and resource-efficient”, says Frank Klingemann, CEO of KUKA Systems GmbH. “Our customers in the automotive industry in particular see that as the decisive competitive factor. Due to shorter product cycles and more differentiated products, there is a demand for solutions which absorb workload peaks and resource shortages. However, we believe there is still significant potential for automation in General Industry.” This year’s appearance at Motek is of particular interest to all automobile manufacturers and suppliers. Using a corner module assembly (wheel mounts with braking components), the Augsburg-based systems manufacturer will be demonstrating the fundamental opportunities presented by application modules in an assembly line – these can, of course, be used in other fields as well.
screw fastening, assembling, handling: practical applications
The KUKA flexFELLOW can fasten screws, assemble, handle: this sensitive robot assistant can carry out complex, unergonomic or monotonous tasks in various applications. For example, it can fasten the pump covers on dish-washers. The mobile assistant can tighten four screws within 16 seconds. The application was tested successfully as part of a pilot system for dishwashers at the factory of BSH Haushaltgeräte GmbH in Dillingen.In another application, the KUKA flexFELLOW mounts gearboxes. KUKA also uses this automated process in its own production department. In this case, gear units are mounted onto the link arms for the KR Quantec KUKA robot series. The robot application meets all the criteria for biomechanical threshold values according to ISO/TS 15066, conforms to the machinery directive 2006/42/EG and, as a result, was also certified by the Test and Certification Center of the German Statutory Accident Insurance Body (DGUV Test) for machine and production automation. As the mobile assistant operates on a linear axis, there is no reason to be afraid of coming into contact with the KUKA flexFELLOW in this application. In collaboration with the worker, the robot screws various components onto a brake disc, changes tools independently and can also be used for disassembly if required. KUKA Systems will be demonstrating applications which are already being used in production by innovative customers either in the same or a similar way, paving the way towards industry 4.0.