New UR30 cobot arm packs muscle into small frame

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The brand new UR30 cobot arm from Common Robots.

Universal Robots has lengthy been the main developer of collaborative robotic arms. Earlier in November 2023, the Danish firm upped the production capacity of its UR20 cobot arm to maintain up with buyer demand. And as we speak at iREX in Tokyo, Common Robots unveiled its newest product: the UR30 cobot arm.

Constructed on the identical architecture as the UR20, the UR30 cobot arm provides extra payload capability in a compact footprint. With a 30 kg (66.13 lb.) lifting capability, 1,300 mm (51.2 in.) attain, and weight of 63.5 kg (139.9 lb.), the corporate stated the UR30 can have a tendency bigger machines, palletize heavy merchandise and help high-torque screwdriving.

Anders Billesø Beck, vp of technique and innovation at Common Robots, instructed The Robotic Report that the UR30 has been in improvement for greater than a 12 months. He stated that, regardless of the recognition of the UR20, some prospects wished a robotic with a smaller footprint and a better payload capability.

“We noticed some purposes the place the UR20 was too huge,” he stated. “We’ve discovered that excellent mixture of measurement and energy. The footprint of the UR10 resonates with lots of prospects. The UR30 is a supercharged model of the UR10.”

The UR10e weighs 33.5 kg (73.9 lb.), provides the identical attain because the UR30, and has a payload capability of 12.5 kg (27.55 lb.). The UR20 weighs 64 kg (141.1 lb.), has a attain of 1,750 mm (68.9 in.) and provides a payload capability of 20 kg (44.1 lb.).

The UR30 is accessible for pre-order now and can start transport in Q1 2024. Common Robots is now actively promoting six cobot arms: the UR3e, UR5e, UR10e, UR16e, UR20, and the brand new UR30. Here’s a chart that compares the corporate’s cobot arms. Word that it hasn’t but been up to date to incorporate the specs of the UR30.

The UR20 won a 2023 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award, which on the time was the corporate’s strongest and quickest cobot ever.

The UR cobot line is rising. Supply: Common Robots

UR30 provides ‘regular mode’ for high-torque screwdriving

The UR10 will nonetheless be helpful, Beck stated, because the UR30 is dearer and about double the load. The UR30 provides six levels of freedom and a brand new “regular mode” that Beck stated opens up the cobot arm to totally different screwdriving purposes, together with within the automotive business.

UR has mentioned at size just lately how cobots are being used more in the automotive industry. This new function will allow it for use to screw down chassis parts on electrical automobiles, for instance.

“When you’ve got a cobot, you must measure if in case you have collisions with individuals or objects, however that contradicts present exterior forces,” Beck stated. “So we now have a particular perform for screwdriving constructed into our cobots now that holds the robotic at a standstill so we are able to face up to extra torque. This allows pretty high-torque tightening purposes with collaborative robots.”

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Meals and beverage driving packaging demand

Beck stated UR is seeing lots of demand inside meals and beverage packaging purposes. He stated 30 kg is concerning the cutoff for the quantity of weight people are requested to carry on and off of pallets. “Sacks of rice or canned objects are designed to be on the restrict of what individuals can carry.”

To assist with these heavier-duty packaging purposes, Beck stated new 20 to 30 kg grippers are coming to market from a few of UR’s ecosystem companions.

“The upper payload and better flexibility underpin a brand new period in automation,” said UR President Kim Povlsen. “Industries around the globe are embracing extra agile manufacturing and modularity in manufacturing – a part of attaining that modularity and agility is about mobility, and this cobot delivers that regardless of its payload.”

“As industries evolve, the UR30 not solely meets however [also] anticipates shifting calls for, enabling companies to adapt and reply to altering wants successfully,” he stated. “As we proceed to innovate, the UR30 is one other step in UR’s journey in pushing the boundaries of what’s attainable on the earth of automation.”

Looming milestone

The UR30 isn’t the primary cobot to supply a 30 kg payload capability. FANUC and Yaskawa beat UR to the punch there. However UR has offered way more cobots than any firm up to now.

You possibly can learn extra about UR’s historical past here, however it was based in 2005, offered its first cobot in 2008 and was acquired by Teradyne in 2015 for $285 million.

These are a number of the milestones UR has already reached, however one other is prone to are available in 2024: promoting its 100,000th cobot arm. Might that historic sale be a brand new UR30?

“The demand in lots of industries has been overwhelming,” Beck stated. “We at all times take a look at what’s the easiest way to broaden our portfolio. For us, it’s all about having simplicity of alternative for our prospects. It ought to be straightforward for them to have a look at our merchandise and decide which one they want. The UR30 is one other step in that path.”