Schneider Electric has developed a new collaborative robot for safe cooperation between man and machine. The so-called Lexium Cobot is available in five model variants and can be retrofitted as a standalone solution in almost any industrial plant.
Gentle mobility
Unlike conventional industrial robots, which typically feature high acceleration and immense forces, cobots can operate in close proximity to their human counterparts. The lightweight robots come standard with safety protocols and have sensitive force monitoring to detect a collision. This qualifies them for a wide range of applications that would not be possible with conventional industrial robots.
Increases safety
Schneider Electric's first cobot is available in a total of five versions. These differ in terms of size, payload (3 to 18 kg) and working radius. All models in the series feature torque monitoring, which they use to detect a collision. In the event of unexpected contact, a safety protocol ensures that the gripper arm, which is made of aluminum, immediately stops its movement. Rounded edges as well as the overall low weight further reduce the risk of injury. Since this eliminates the need for additional safety devices, depending on the application, space savings of around 30 to 40 % can be achieved compared with traditional industrial robots.
What also particularly distinguishes the Lexium Cobot models from Schneider Electric is their high degree of mobility. Due to the total of six axes, practically any movement profile can be realized. And this, by the way, not only in systems in which the Schneider Cobot is permanently integrated. Thanks to its own PLC control, the robot arm can also be used as a stand-alone solution and connected upstream or downstream of machine processes - for example, when workpieces need to be transferred to a human operator or packaged goods need to be stacked.
Hand-guided Teaching
Another special feature of the new collaborative robot is its graphical programming. Apart from a certain level of basic technical knowledge, this does not require any specific training. The cobot also learns how to perform certain tasks by being taught the required motion profile through manual guidance of the robot arm. This so-called hand-guided teaching results in a further simplification of the programming process and eliminates the need for detailed parameterization of motion settings. In this way, the Lexium Cobot is ready for use very quickly and can also be adjusted to new conditions at short notice in the event of retooling. Specialized knowledge for programming or commissioning is not required.
At Schneider Electric, Lexium Cobot is part of the holistic automation platform Ecostruxure Machine. The portfolio thus designated includes other robots, transport systems (Lexium MC12 - Multi Carrier), motion controllers and drives, as well as a uniform software solution for all stages of machine development.
