High performance shelf mounted robot benefits injection moulders

Stäubli Robotics has introduced a six-axis shelf mounted robot into its range of four-axis and six-axis robots specifically designed for the plastics market. The TX340 SH can be mounted on top of an injection moulding machine and is said to deliver excellent reach and payload capability; increasing production flexibility and providing a smaller footprint than conventional gantry robots.

Stäubli states its six-axis robots are ideal for injection moulding applications, as not only can they provide high speed demoulding but, with six degrees of freedom, are able to perform many secondary operations at the side of the moulding machine, such as desprueing, part inspection, assembly tasks and packaging – usually all within the machine’s moulding cycle. Stäubli’s robot range has been developed in close co-operation with end users in the plastics market to ensure that the robots are responsive and easy to use, meeting all the demanding real-time operational requirements of injection moulding.

The latest introduction to the range is the TX 340 SH, a shelf mountable, six-axis robot that can be positioned on top of the IMM. Stäubli states mounting on top of the IMM reduces the cell footprint and allows the robot to operate effectively on both sides of the machine. The robot can handle payloads up to 165kgs and has a reach of 3680mm, making it suitable for most moulding shop tasks.

Designed with IP65 protection, this machine can reportedly operate at speeds up to 12 metres/second while still maintaining a repeatability of +/- 0.1mm over its full working envelope.

Stäubli states the economic benefits of automation by using six-axis robots have never been clearer. While labour rates continue to rise and availability of skills provides on-going difficulties, the real cost of robots has been decreasing. Payback times of 18 months and less are achievable through increased productivity and reduced wastage of materials, in addition to the benefits of operator safety.