Viper robot strikes balance between speed, power

The use of laser-welded steel sections in a redesigned compact construction reduces machine-mounted weight for a new line of gantry-style part-removal robots, while also providing operational stability, even when handling relatively heavy parts at high-speed cycles. Dubbed the viper, Engel North America (York, PA) says the robot line, which was introduced at last year's Fakuma and launched in North America now, combines acceleration, stability, and customized operator convenience. Available in several models with payloads from 55-120 lb, the Viper can be used with injection molding machines ranging from 120-1650 tons in clamp force. 

Control optimizes acceleration, energy use; minimizes vibration

Engel describes the control system as intuitive, adding that three features of the software will boost productivity and uptime when operating at high speeds. These built-in modules include mass identification, which identifies the manipulated mass and adapts the robot's movements to suit the manipulated part, ensuring optimum acceleration. Vibration control reduces vibration emanating from the robot structure, even for longer axis dimensions. The efficiency control optimizes the viper's movements to allow maximum productivity, with minimized energy consumption.