World's strongest robot launched
18 June 2007
Kuka has unveiled the Titan, which is claimed to be the world’s largest and strongest 6-axis industrial robot. It is specially designed to automate a wide range of heavy duty manufacturing applications thanks to its 1000Kg payload capacity.
The Titan boasts nine motors that, together, deliver the power of a mid-sized car while its reach extends to more than 4 metres at full stretch and it's work envelope is 78 cubic metres. Each axis is powered by a pair of motors, each with its own gear unit. It can withstand a static torque of 60,000Nm, which is higher than the typical 600Nm maximum drive torque of a powerful car (or in other words, just 1% of the power of the Titan).
The new robot has been developed to handle heavy duty payloads which were only previously possible using at least two robots or high-cost, less flexible gantry systems. Kuka says the Titan KR1000 is capable of handling, completely unaided, large and bulky components such as whole car bodies, building materials or huge castings.
“It was a fascinating challenge to combine power, speed, reach and precision into a single, high-tech, high-performance machine. This project has enabled Kuka to demonstrate fresh proof of its innovative drive and engineering expertise by delivering a unique robot within just over a year, a fast time in development terms,” explained Alexander Bay, Kuka’s product manager for the Titan.
“The Titan has been developed for really heavy-duty work such as in the construction materials industry. For example, it can effortlessly lift concrete staircase sections in place of a crane which would usually weigh many more times than this robot. Metre-thick panes of glass or large castings are also easily handled,” he added.
Kuka was also keen to ensure that the robot was easy to transport and install, so it has been specially designed to be shipped in a standard container, and equipped with standard mounting plates. The Titan has a weight-to-payload ratio of less than five and offers all the benefits associated with other robots in its range. These include modular construction, user-friendly programming and an intuitive control system.
Contact Details and Archive...