Thomson Industries, Inc., a linear motion control solutions manufacturer, has released a collaborative extension of cobots. The new Movotrak CTU 7th axis features collision detection settings for programming and control benefits. An industrial robot transfer unit (RTU) has also been launched, which can be easily integrated with a user's preferred motor and drive.
Adding a horizontal operating range up to 10 m, the Movotrak cobot transfer unit (CTU) features collision detection that stops the cobot when it encounters an obstacle, facilitating collaboration and increasing productivity.
"With the extension of the collaborative functionality along the 7th axis, manufacturers can deploy cobots to work more closely and flexibly with humans," said Kyle Thompson, Product Innovation Manager at Thomson. "Using the same cobot for more than one workstation boosts productivity and extracts maximum value from the initial cobot investment."
Also known as a range extender, the Thomson Movotrak CTU 7th axis features a Kollmorgen servo motor and linear-unit-driven guide rails that move a cobot assembly from one task location to another. The Movotrak CTU has collision detection functionality similar to a cobot joint. Users adjust collision sensitivity settings on a control tablet during set-up, and the Movotrak CTU motor drive and digital I/O manage the collision monitoring and shutdown.
The collision detection system also monitors current continuously, detecting position errors in the motor and providing comprehensive anti-collision capabilities along the entire 7th axis. The system includes a small reverse-move feature that eliminates pinch points following a stop.
The Movotrak CTU 7th axis integrates seamlessly with many cobot sizes and brands, including Universal Robots (UR), which allows all programming to be done directly through a URCap interface on a UR Teach Pendant. All collision monitoring and safeguard logic runs in the Thomson drive, so bandwidth competition with the UR controls is minimal.
Similar to the freedrive of cobot joints, the Movotrak CTU 7th axis freedrive functionality enables hand-driven setting of linear waypoints during programming. Users manually slide the cobot where they would like it to be in a sequence along the 7th axis and register that with a simple push button. A good use case example of this feature is an aircraft quality inspector who needs repeated images of the same area over time. Another might be a welder who wants to carry out welding sequences at multiple locations.
The Movotrak CTU 7th axis features a dual-linear unit solution for improved movement load capacity and stiffness. This design offers enhanced performance, even when fully extending the cobot arm. Moreover, it offers greater flexibility. The 7th axis can be seamlessly mounted in a horizontal, inverted or wall-mounted configuration, making it an adaptable choice for diverse applications. Notably, the Movotrak CTU 7th axis is well-equipped for compatibility with even the largest cobots, such as the UR20 and UR30.
For those with a preferred servo/auxiliary axis motor and drive, Thomson is also releasing a new industrial RTU, which allows users to quickly and easily equip their robotic applications with a 7th axis. With a Thomson RediMount motor mounting adapter kit included, users can integrate their motor in less than a minute and use their own robotic controller to take advantage of the RTU. Compatible with many robot brands and sizes, the industrial RTU features the same dual-linear-unit design and carriage-mounted mounting plate as the Movotrak CTU to help ensure optimal precision for user applications.
The Thomson Movotrak CTU 7th axis ships as a kit, including the linear units, gearhead, motor, drives, control box, software, end-of-stroke limit switches and cable management. The Thomson industrial RTU is also available and includes dual linear units, gearhead, motor mounting adapter kit, mounting plate, end-of-stroke limit switches and cable management.
For more information contact:
Thomson Industries, Inc.
2400 Curtiss St.
Downers Grove, IL 60515
540-633-3549
thomson@regalrexnord.com