ABB’s New Robot Alignment Software Aims to Increase Robot Speed, Accuracy
April 12, 2022
ABB Robotics has announced a new software solution to transform speed and accuracy in electronics assembly. The High Speed Alignment software includes 50 years of software expertise, and is the first to offer manufacturers the ability to increase the speed of six-axis robots by 70%, and accuracy by 50%, ABB said.
The PC-based software includes Visual Servoing technology using one or more cameras, combined with a computer vision system, to control the position of the robot relative to the workpiece. As the robot is moving, the cameras continuously capture image information that the computer vision system processes to cross check and adjust the robotic movements to deliver precision from 0.01 to 0.02 mm. The software is compatible with ABB’s IRB 1100 and IRB 120 industrial robots.
“Sales of smartphones, wearables and other high-tech devices are growing and advances in electronics are gathering pace,” said Liang Rui, managing director for ABB’s robotics electronics business line. “As devices become smaller and more powerful, new automation solutions are required to quickly and accurately place components, ensuring that production can keep pace with demand while maintaining the highest levels of product quality.”
ABB said its articulated six-axis robots are highly flexible for handling complex tasks in tight spaces, and can perform several meticulous placement tasks. The High Speed Alignment software was developed to find a balance between speed and accuracy. Along with tuning, systems integrators and manufacturers can reduce their deployment time – down from an entire shift of eight hours to about one hour, ABB said. The software is also compatible with several cameras, IRC5 and OmniCore robot controllers, allowing integrators to adapt existing installations.
For more details on the software, visit the ABB RobotWare High Speed Alignment website here.
The company also announced expanding its robot portfolio for electronics manufacturing, with a new IRB 1300 variant and the IRB 920T SCARA options. The new IRB 1300 combines a payload of 12 kg and a reach of 1.4 meters, allowing it to handle heavier objects at the same time. The IRB 920T SCARA robot includes new options with IP54 and cleanroom functions, to ensure stable production in dusty, wet, and cleanroom environments.
