NEW INTERNAL DRESSING ROBOT FOR SPOT WELDING AND MATERIALS HANDLING
16 July 2006 - ABB Limited (Group Headquarters)

Faulty process cabling is a common cause of unpredicted stops on robot lines, due to excessive wear as the cables swing in irregular patterns about the robot arm. Users can expect an external dresspack service life of only 1-2 years, particularly when arduous operating conditions are the norm.

Unlike conventional robots, however, the IRB 6600ID's cabling is not only routed within the upper arm but fixed in position so that motion is predictable on regular robot cycles. As a result, the service life is normally 6-8 years in a three-shift operation, while both cost of ownership and downtime are cut substantially.

A further advantage of internal dressing is that the process arm of the robot is very compact. This allows the robot wrist to access very narrow confines in the application, such as normally inaccessible areas within a car body etc., while interference with other robots in high-density installations is also reduced.

Internal dressing also brings another benefit, in that it makes offline programming significantly easier. Programmers do not have to consider the practical dimensional implications of the dresspack; instead they can concentrate on optimising the relevant process. This is advantageous both when programming a new line and when introducing new workpieces into an existing line.

As well as being ultra-reliable and highly manoeuvrable, the IRB 6600ID is also fast, accurate, powerful and versatile. Due to ABB's unique motion control, robot acceleration and retardation are optimised, which results in the fast cycle time, while accuracy and positional repeatability are 'best-in-class.'

Payload can be 170 or 185 kgs, with maximum reach of 2.5 or 2.75 m, and, being part of the IRB 6600 family, the IRB 6600ID features the highest inertia performance, suitable for handling not only heavy workpieces but wide ones as well.

Application 'dresspacks' for spot welding and materials handling are available and both meet the highest technical demands for signal, power and air supplies.

The IRB 6600ID is part of 'The Power Generation' of custom-configured six-axis industrial robots from ABB, and enhances an already diverse and impressive portfolio of robotic products. This portfolio includes a comprehensive range of robots for all sectors of industry, as well as robot controllers, software, application equipment and robot peripherals.

http://www.abb.co.uk

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