Greater carrying capacity and wider range: with the new MOTOMAN HC20DT IP67 manufacturer Yaskawa has expanded its portfolio of collaborative robots to include a substantially larger model.
The Cobot was designed for a maximum handling weight of 20 kg and covers a working range of 1700 mm.
Up until now, Cobots were smaller robots that catered mainly for payloads up to 10 kg with a range of about 1200 mm. The HC20DT IP67 significantly broadens the spectrum for HRC applications: a payload of 20 kg combined with a range of 1700 mm permits flexible use in a wide variety of applications.
Employees receive effective support, particularly with physically demanding tasks such as the palletizing of large cardboard boxes, crates or other stackable goods. The robot will lift heavy loads, improving workplace ergonomics and releasing the operator for cognitively more demanding activities.
Due to its dust- and waterproof protective class IP67, the Cobot also prevails in harsh environments such as machine tool loading, where the robot often comes into contact with cooling emulsions. The high lifting capacity permits the simultaneous handling of several heavy workpieces with a double gripper that is a standard in CNC automation. Easy-to-clean surfaces and the use of food-grade lubricating grease make it suitable for the food and chemical industries.
Safety in direct contact with the operator
The required safety in direct contact with the operator is ensured by six integrated torque sensors that enable flexible interaction between the robot and its environment. The robot arm is designed to preclude the risk of crushing, e.g. fingers. With regard to German and European safety standards, the MOTOMAN HC20DT IP67 can be employed – like the smaller HC10DT – as a robot with power and force limitation according to technical specification ISO TS 15066.
Depending on the risk assessment, it thus requires no additional protective measures such as a safety enclosure, saving space and costs. The compatible YRC1000 or YRC1000micro high-performance controllers with integrated FSU and PFL circuit boards satisfy the performance level PL d Category 3 according to DIN EN ISO 13849-1. These can be used for Cobots as well as normal Yaskawa industrial robots.
In order to further increase the robot’s performance, it can also be operated in hybrid mode by connecting external safety technology, e.g. a laser scanner. The Cobot then alternates between collaborating, speed-reduced and full speed, achieving a maximum cycle time regardless of the distance to the employee.
Emphasis on user-friendly operation
In addition to the safety aspects, in the design of the HC20DT IP67 – as with the HC10DT – an emphasis was placed from the outset on particularly user-friendly operation. Thanks to the six integrated torque sensors together with the monitoring and evaluation of external forces, the robot arm can be guided and programmed directly by hand (direct teach, DT). This results in time savings in the creation of robot programs. The “MOVE”, “TEACH” and “TOOL UTILITY” buttons mounted on the flange are used for programming. The new MOTOMAN HC20DT IP67 can also be easily programmed and operated in conjunction with the user-friendly Smart Pendant programmer or a conventional hand-held programmer (teach pendant).
In addition to the HC20DT IP67, four further HRC-capable robot models are available from Yaskawa: HC10, HC10DT, HC10DT IP67 and soon the HC10DTF for the food sector.
