Some call them as spider robots, but they are just parallel robots with three or four arms working together to provide high-speed and accuracy in manipulation. These articulated robots are used in a wide range of applications including pick & place, packaging or assembly from different industries like food or pharmaceutical.
Parallel type robots are characterized by a low payload compared with serial manipulators which handle hundreds of kilograms at a single movement, while parallel robots has a maximum payload of up to 8 kilograms.
High-speed and high-accuracy are the strength points while a limited workspace could be an advantage as well as a disadvantage. Robots with limited workspace cannot reach around obstacles and this is the case of parallel robots.
Compared with a serial manipulator, each chain of parallel robots is short and simple with a high impact over its movements which are more stable and accurate. This type of industrial robots comes in many forms and is capable of a wide range of motion capabilities.
Advanced visual systems are used to detect colors and shapes in order to recognize objects for precise movement even for materials in movement such as from a conveyor.
DELTA
High-speed industrial parallel robot for food applications.
Kawasaki builds one of the fastest parallel type robots called Delta with work envelopes of 1,300 mm diameter. Part of Y-Series robots, Delta is characterized by simplicity in programming and operating. It has a flexible design that fits in a wide range of handling applications in industries including here especially pick & place applications.
Delta can be used for a maximum payload of 3 kilograms with a short cycle time of 0.27 seconds. Higher productivity means high speed and accuracy in manipulation. Both features are integrated in the industrial manipulator with values for positional repeatability between – 0.1 mm and + 0.1 mm, while angular repeatability is between – 0.1 degree and + 0.1 degree.
Another important feature is the vision that allows the robot to recognize objects and shapes for precise movement. The K-VFinder vision software is part of an advanced 2D vision system located into a robot and designed for feedback when objects are handled. The system works for static objects as well as objects on continuous movements such as from a conveyor.
Based on colors and shapes, the vision system locates the position of materials and performs inspection.
One target for this small robot is food applications since it is designed to be cleaned with acid or alkaline solutions.
IRB 360 FlexPicker
Fast, accurate and flexible, a robot designed for a wide range of industrial applications.
ABB is one of the most popular names in robotic industry, a company that builds IRB 360 FlexPicker parallel type robot with a working area of 1130 mm. The robot comes in many versions with a payload range between 3 to 8 kilograms.
High payload and increased speed are just two features completed by an optimized process for picking and packaging applications. Up to 100 cycles per minute could be done by IRB 360 which can work for different applications including assembly lines, picking and packaging, or in the food industry where is available in a cleaner version.
With a flexible design, IRB 360 has a frame engineered to integrate large and heavier grippers in order to handle different products in short time.
Features include a hygienic design needed especially in the food industry, as well as a high performance in tracking or integrated control of indexing belts.
Quattro s800H
Four arms provide flexibility for a wide range of applications where the maximum payload is 4 kilograms.
Quattro s800H is a versatile industrial parallel robot build by Adept and designed to ensure high-speed manipulation in different applications like packaging, handling, or assembling. It has a maximum payload of 4 kilograms while the maximum speed is 10 m/s at a repeatability of ±0.1 mm.
Four arms work together and provide flexibility in material handling, assembly applications or for packaging. Quattro s800H has a compact control and embedded amplifiers for easy installation and for a small footprint.
M-3iA/M-6A
Lightweight parallel robot available in a wide range of versions and a maximum payload of kilograms.
Available in 4 (M-3iA) or 6 (M-6A) axes configurations, M model is a lightweight parallel robot from Fanuc Robotics. It has a maximum payload of 6 kilograms, a weight that allows being used in a wide range of applications. The parallel robot has a compact design and dimensions of its workplace of 1350 millimeters in diameter with a repeatability of +- 0.1 mm.
Fanuc M-3iA is designed for assembly and packaging operations in hard-working conditions like dust or oil mist environment, or available in other version, the robot can be used in pharmaceutical or food industry. This version comes with protection material for easy disinfection.
With a unique system for a three axes wrist applied to a parallel link, the robot can maintain with high accuracy the position at high-speed motion.
The brain of the robot is a R-30iA controller with a series of functions including here iRVision, Robot Link and Collision protection.
MPP3
MPP3 is a powerful parallel robot with high-speed and large area of working.
MOTOMAN MPP3 parallel robot features include a large working area and high-speed with a kinematic system integrated. It has a maximum payload of 3 kilograms while it can reach a maximum diameter of 1300 mm with repeatability of ±0. 1 mm. Four axes, high-speed in maneuvers, or high accuracy ranks the robot in a large list of applications including here especially picks and place solutions in food or pharmaceutical industries.
