Mitsubishi

The current trend of robot control is changing with PLC-based solutions offering different benefits and opportunities over the traditional dedicated robot controllers. So what needs to be considered when selecting the right solution for the application? Here Barry Weller, Product Manager at Mitsubishi Electric, looks at how to determine which robot control option is best.

The MR-J4 servo amplifier series from Mitsubishi Electric incorporates a multi-network interface called ‘Servo Open Network’. It enables the user-friendly drive to be compatible with all relevant motion control systems worldwide. Machine manufacturers who offer their solutions globally will benefit from the open network connection feature of the MELSERVO MR-J4 amplifier series. 

Mitsubishi Electric has released the company’s smallest and most powerful compact PLC to date, the FX5UC series Micro PLC. Its diminutive size is set to help machine builders and manufacturers pack ever more functionality into a smaller space - while also providing the web access and network connectivity demanded by the latest Smart Factory applications.

Faster time to market and increased production flexibility can be achieved using Mitsubishi Electric’s M8 Series CNC controllers with Direct Robot Control (DRC) functionality. Both the large touchscreen M800 and the M80 models offer DRC as standard. It allows machine tool operators to program and use robots quickly, direct from the CNC panel without specialist robot programming expertise.

Mitsubishi Electric has extended its MELFA articulated arm and SCARA robot offering to include a range of delta robots. These combine Mitsubishi Electric’s award-winning servo technology with the latest mechanicals from e-F@ctory Alliance partner Codian Robotics. This combination enables the user to achieve reliable performance in higher speed pick and place operations, with the advantage of simple set-up and programming from one the markets main automation brands.

Mitsubishi Electric has assisted Western Mechanical Handling (WMH) to develop a fully automated inline cell for cutting and slicing food of any size and shape on the fly. The solution is based on Mitsubishi Electric’s MELSEC Q series high-performance PLC, plus system-matched components including HMI, variable speed drives and two MELFA articulated arm robots. The resulting machine maximises performance, flexibility and productivity for customers in the food sector.

As Industry 4.0 turns into a reality, businesses that are introducing more robots into the production environment will be able to benefit from increasingly efficient maintenance regimes. As with any asset, these critical machines will run at peak efficiency when operators have access to predictive maintenance tools. The latest predictive analytics solution supplied with Mitsubishi Electric industrial robots uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a key feature for optimisation.

It has been announced that Mitsubishi Electric has extended its inverter portfolio with a 690V version of its FR-A800 series inverters. The new models of the FR-A870 690V line cover power outputs up to 1.5MW. Yet this increased power is delivered in a slim package that starts at just 380mm wide, offering significant space saving potential. 

With an extended operating temperature range of -20 to +65°C, and protection ratings to IP67F/IP66F, the GOT2507T-WTSD seven inch operator terminal from Mitsubishi Electric meets the needs of harsh and demanding applications. No additional protective measures are required for washdown with high pressure water or use in power equipment that is typically located outdoors. 

The perfect beer is a harmonious blend of art and science. Automation can help by performing the measured and repetitive tasks while allowing brewers to focus on more creative, interesting and rewarding aspects. So when Sadler’s Ales, a historic Black Country brewery, started to grow its business, it decided to adopt an automated process control solution from Mitsubishi Electric to improve productivity and make the quality of its craft beers more consistent.

Recent developments are opening new opportunities and catapulting the industrial robot arm into a journey around the production environment. Robots undoubtably take the drudgery out of many repetitive manufacturing, packaging and processing tasks. Engineers are generally fascinated by the idea of improving production processes and keen to integrate robots, so the decision as to whether one is used or not boils down to economics; operators want to see a good case made for the return on investment before giving the green light.

Automation has always lent itself to the manufacture of mass produced disposable medical devices and the bulk processing of samples - for two main reasons; initially for speed and repeatability, and then because human presence poses one of the biggest contamination risks in a clean production or processing environment.

Through its new cloud-based solution for pro-active maintenance based on the AI platform within IBM Watson Mitsubishi enables smart analysis of operational data to predict and highlight future maintenance requirements. The theory is that sometimes service schedule requirements for robots are inadvertently missed which, despite the extended duty-cycles and the general reliability of modern robots, is not a healthy situation for continuous plant operation.

An Autonomously Guided Vehicle (AGV) equipped with a robot arm has been developed by Mitsubishi Electric and Mirage, making it possible to deploy the same robot at multiple workstations. The system has been designed to give flexibility to assembly lines and boost plant productivity.

It has been announced that Mitsubishi Electric’s new industrial robot series combines reduced cycle times with scalable safety features and offers versatile connectivity options for easy integration into production systems. 

It has been announced that Mitsubishi Electric has added two widescreen versions of its GOT2000 HMIs to the range. The wider display format is designed to allow users of the GT21 and GT25 models to display additional screen information for enhanced machine operability and improved user experience as well as the ability to increase productivity.

A project at the Centre for Fine Print Research (CFPR) based at the University of the West of England, (UWE) Bristol UK is looking at 3D printing from a totally different angle - where the emphasis is placed on meaningful expression, rather than the accurate reproduction of digital data. A flexible Mitsubishi Electric MELFA RV-Series articulated arm industrial robot is at the centre of the project.

  Collaborative and multi-functional robots that increase plant productivity, flexibility, and safety were on show at Drives and Controls 2018.

Linear transfer carriages and articulated arm robots that can move around the factory floor on AGVs and can direct and think for themselves, will both be featured in Mitsubishi Electric's range of innovative products and solutions at Drives & Controls 2018.

The AutomationML interface within iQ Work has been implemented by Mitsubishi Electric, which is the integrated software suite for programming Mitsubishi Electric automation products. AutomationML represents an important step-change in the way complex equipment is designed, installed and maintained. Designers, integrators and end users will all benefit from a streamlined approach to system implementation that will drive down costs and shorten time to market.