ABB Robotics has unveiled its latest compact robot for arc welding and machine tending, the IRB 1660ID, which it states is the most versatile robot in the mid-size class.

The robot’s Integrated DressPack makes it easier to programme and simulate predictable cable movements, creates a more compact footprint and reduces maintenance costs by 50 per cent thanks to reduced wear and tear on cables, the company says.

“Our aim from the beginning was to deliver a robot that offers superior and consistent quality in arc welding – as well as a fast, agile and reliable machine tending solution,” explains Dr Hui Zhang, head of global product management, ABB Robotics. “This robot will allow our customers to increase productivity, deliver better work piece quality and reduce cycle times.”

The IRB1660ID’s compact, hollow wrist with Integrated DressPack is ideal for applications requiring work in tight spaces such as arc welding and machine tending.

“As a direct result of close collaboration with our customers, the IRB 1660ID also includes a new generation of accurate, efficient and reliable motors,” adds Zhang. “We spent a great deal of engineering effort making the robot as rigid as possible to better protect it, and to equip it for the confined spaces in which it is designed to operate.”

The IRB 1660ID can handle payloads up to 6 kg and has a reach of 1.55 meters.

All ABB Robotics’ products are fully supported by the ABB Robotics’ global sales and service organisation in 53 countries and over 100 locations.

Also recently, ABB Robotics introduced Connected Services, a sophisticated suite of services to ensure robot uptime and optimise the performance of robotic systems.

These are delivered via ABB’s MyRobot, a single, intuitive interface, making actionable data available anywhere and at any time.

“The ability to monitor robots in this manner increases efficiency, reduces service costs, ensures uptime and extends asset lifetime,” says Dr Zhang.

Connected Services is part of an interconnected ecosystem ABB calls the Internet of Things, Services and People (IoTSP), and is available via ABB’s Robot Care Service Agreements. These services use actionable data from a customer’s entire installed base of connected ABB robots to improve reliability and speed response time and recovery, should issues arise. 

“Thanks to these diagnostic technologies, a once reactive approach to fleet management is replaced by a predictive, proactive, and immediate one” says Zhang. “Prior to the advent of the Internet of Things Services and People, robots were often serviced only when in need of repair, or were maintained according to the calendar, or operating hours. Now we can base maintenance on a robot’s actual condition and prioritise activities that will keep customers’ most critical processes efficient and available. ”

AN EVOLUTION

Connected Services is an evolution of the Remote Services for robots which ABB introduced in 2007, and reflect the benefits of integrating more “things” and “services” into the IoTSP ecosystem, the company says. “The performance and reliability gains from the digitalisation of robotic factory automation are hallmarks of the IoTSP. ABB Robotics continues to reshape the way the world looks at manufacturing automation with a number of innovative solutions and services that are helping its customers realise the benefits of the factory of the future, today.”