Cobot is best option for engineering firm needing press brake machine tending role

A collaborative rather than an industrial robot was selected by supplier of ventilation and heating systems TROX UK, with the forming of multiple parts programmed into the system.

Integrator Olympus Technologies explains that the customer had identified a shortage of experienced press brake operators, and opted for the cost and flexibility benefits of a cobot to work in this role. 

With no ‘off-the-peg’ automated press brake tending system available, the company set about finding an integrator capable of responding to its needs. It chose to invest in a Universal Robot due to the supplier’s length of time in the market and the range of applications the cobot can be used for.

The customer approached Olympus, despite the integrator having no experience in robotic press brake tending. With over 30 years’ experience in automation, Huddersfield-based Olympus was able to reassure the heating, ventilation and air conditioning company that it could meet the challenge. 

“While the decision to undertake the project was risky for TROX, Olympus delivered exactly what we asked for, to timescale, and it just worked,” says chief design engineer Martyn Mills. “Their quality of design and integration was excellent, and they have been available and willing on the odd occasions that we have needed support.”

The system designed and developed by Olympus consists of a Universal Robot UR10e integrated to fully control the customer’s Trumpf TruBend 7050 press brake machine. Together, a custom-designed pneumatic Scorpion gripper and bespoke software provide effortless control for the operator.

The Scorpion gripper incorporates both multi-circuit pneumatic and extendable pinch gripping technologies, with the gripper reconfigurable for larger and smaller parts. Also featured is an integrated rotational cylinder which allows parts to be quickly reorientated during the press brake process, saving both programming and operational time. A high-resolution distance sensor allows the robot to keep track of infeed part stacks, accurately measuring components as thin as 500 microns.

The robot is mounted on a mobile trolley with a single cable, allowing easy connection, disconnection and relocation. By the end of January this year, the customer had fully programmed 39 parts, with time requirements said to have been significantly shortened by using the custom programming template designed by Olympus.

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www.olympustechnologies.co.uk