A lightweight, table-top robot for collaborative working

29 March 2015

R A Rodriguez engineers cost-effective production systems that allow humans and robots to work collaboratively without the need for safety guarding.

The two sizes of Universal Robots in R A Rodriguez range are now complemented by a new, lightweight, table-top version, the UR3.

This compact and virtually noiseless robot has a footprint of just 118mm and is the product of three years of development. It weighs 11kg but has a payload of 3kg, ±360-degree rotation on all wrist joints and infinite rotation on the end joint.

These features make the UR3 a suitable choice for applications that require 6-axis capability where size, safety and costs are all critical issues. Power consumption is equally low: 100W using a typical programme.

Central to the design is the inclusion of a patented safety system that makes the IP54 classified UR3 particularly suitable for tasks that require human interaction. Fifteen advanced safety functions are fully adjustable to meet the needs of specific applications.

A wide range of I/O ports are easy to configure either as digital or safety signals and the robot has standard communication protocols for easy integration into the automated environment.

The flexibility of UR3 allows this new addition to assist in a wide range of applications across industry. It’s cost-effective for automating single tasks such as gluing or screw-fastening to ensure consistent process quality but is equally suited to picking, assembling and placing parts on the production line.

Thanks to its compact form and easy programming, the UR3 makes it simple to switch between tasks to meet agile manufacturing needs; programming is via a 12in touchscreen. As a result the total cost of ownership is low and the payback period, fast.