Affordable automation for midsized injection machines

Processors operating injection molding machines with clamping force as much as 1000 tons can now enjoy high-performance capabilities at a price below most other three-axis servodriven beam robots with the new Axess 44, according to its supplier Sepro America LLC (Pittsburgh, PA).

“Molders like the speed and precision of three-axis servo operation,” says Jim Healy, VP sales and marketing, “but don’t always have applications that require more than simple pick-and-place functionality. The Axess Series was developed specifically to provide a more affordable option for these situations and now, with the Axess 44, we are able to offer solutions for molding machines from 20 tons to 1000 tons.”

The new robot comes with the Touch 2 control system—including a 10-inch screen with on-board documentation, simple pick-and-place programming, and more—as standard equipment. Instead of a conventional keypad, which is commonly used for manual adjustment of robot positions, the Touch 2 controls pendant has a joystick that allows operators to actually steer the Axess robot to fine-tune its movements. 

The Axess 44 has a standard horizontal stroke of 2500 mm, although longer beams (up to 10,000 mm) are available on request. A standard telescoping vertical arm provides a stroke of 2000 mm without requiring additional ceiling height. The standard demolding or strip stoke is 1100 mm. Maximum instantaneous speed on the horizontal axes is 2 m/sec, and the robot has a payload capacity of 25 kg. —[email protected]