FANUC now offers three small, Collaborative Robots as part of its large industrial robot portfolio: CR-4iA, CR-7iA and the CR-7iA/L. These new additions to the range step into the footsteps of the larger CR-35iA green coloured Collaborative Robot, which still remains the strongest of its kind with a payload of 35kg.
The CR-4iA is the smallest of the FANUC collaborative range, with a payload of 4 kg, while the CR-7iA and CR-7iA/L (long arm) are able to lift up to 7kg. Through proven sensor technology, the FANUC collaborative range ensures a completely safe – stop whenever they collide with an un-expected obstacle, human or otherwise.
With the complete range, TÜV certified to meet international safety requirements ISO 10218-1, their collaborative nature enables these machines to work side by side with a human workforce. In many cases the need for safety fences is eliminated, and their small and compact designs enable them to be fully integrated into the workspace of humans.
An additional value to the collaborative offer is the option to incorporate industry proven FANUC intelligent functions with these robots, adding industry ready plug-and-play vision and force sensor technology opens the gate to new interactions between humans and robots in many different applications. FANUC vision sensors can be used in a variety of tasks including locating workpieces, part or process inspection or reading bar codes. FANUC force sensor technology offers a wide range of precise assembly strategies for complex assembly tasks, in fields such as automotive or the electronics sector.
Being such small and compact robots allows the range to be ceiling or wall mounted, offering a wider range of motion without interfering with the operator’s workspace. The robot can also be mounted on a mobile platform due to its lightweight and slim design. This flexibility makes it easy to change the robot’s work stations allowing them to complete a multitude of tasks along the assembly line depending on the operator’s or business needs. The expected tasks of such robots include light, tedious and repetitive, manual tasks for different types of material handling, small electrical parts transfer and assembly.
Despite these new Collaborative Robots being green on the outside, they are yellow on the inside, operating like any other FANUC robot. With standard FANUC control technology they offer a well-known interface for simple integration into manufacturing plants.
FANUC’s expansion of its “green robot” collaborative range arrives as worldwide sales of Collaborative Robots are increasing, with an expected market value over $2billion in the next 5 years. FANUC is proud to be at the forefront of developing human-robot interaction, and looks forward to contributing new ways of automating manufacturing industries.