Another myth UR is seeking to dispel is the notion that cobots are not suited for processing applications such as spraying, polishing, dispensing, and sanding. “Process automation is not what cobots have been traditionally known to handle, but we’re starting to see applications deploying quickly in these verticals,” says Shepherd, emphasizing how UR+ products for this application cluster are furthering deployments. A recent example is Dynabrade’s robotic sanders that come in a UR+ kit including vacuum-ready pneumatic sanders, robot mount, and a solenoid enabling robotic operation. At Automate, the sanders will be shown in a polishing application with a UR10e.
**The new e-Series line of cobots go to work**
The processing applications are supported by the new built-in, tool-centric Force/Torque sensor now available in Universal Robots new e-Series line of cobots that launched last year. The sensor enables the new UR cobots to take on applications requiring force control right out of the box, such as assembly, sanding, buffing, polishing, and deburring where force feedback is paramount in order to obtain uniform results and repeatability. Another key feature in the new e-Series is the Process Motion functionality in the software that enables the UR cobot to process the part keeping the same TCP speed during operations, a feature essential to most automated process tasks. This will be demonstrated by an inverted UR3e in a dispensing application.
Whereas processing is a new application area for cobots, machine tending has long been the bread and butter for collaborative robots. “Having an expensive machine sit idle, missing out on orders due to lack of staffing, is every manufacturer’s nightmare,” says Shepherd. “Collaborative robots excel at repetitive machine tending, and we’re constantly optimizing solutions for this important task,” he says mentioning the new dual-tending application at the show that features a single UR5e cobot tending two CNC machines in the same cycle. To further streamline spindle uptime, the cobot is equipped with Robotiq’s UR+ certified double HAND-E gripper that can remove a part and insert a new part in the same handling move.