Six-axis robots evolve into snakes

Snake robots incorporate an additional degree of freedom, endowing the individual arm model with seven axes and two dual-arm versions with 13 axes each.The traditional six-axis industrial robot, which has been used for decades to automate welding, handling, machining, painting and many other tasks, has undergone a radical redesign with the launch by Motoman of three new robots, nicknamed 'snake'. Ideal for automating repetitive and laborious assembly operations in manufacturing lines where much...

* Snake robots incorporate an additional degree of freedom, endowing the individual arm model with seven axes and two dual-arm versions with 13 axes each.
* The traditional six-axis industrial robot, which has been used for decades to automate welding, handling, machining, painting and many other tasks, has undergone a radical redesign with the launch by Motoman of three new robots, nicknamed 'snake'.
* Ideal for automating repetitive and laborious assembly operations in manufacturing lines where much of the work is still done manually, the all-electric robots are uncannily human-like in their sise and movement.
* The result is better access to tight spaces than is possible using six-axis robots and greater flexibility when performing the required tasks.
* The two arms on the DA models are capable of co-ordinated motion, allowing the actions of a person to be simulated with remarkable precision.
* The same controller is used as for the rest of the Motoman industrial robot range.
* Designated NX100, it is the product of more than 12 years' development and, with its ability to synchronise the movement of 36 axes, is more than capable of controlling snake robots and their peripherals.
* The Japanese manufacturer, Yaskawa, which manufactures Motoman robots, was the first to use its own products to assemble robots and already has some of the new models fitted with vision systems in its factories.
* Motoman/Yaskawa is the world's largest robot producer, with a monthly output of 1800 units, and offers the widest range with payloads ranging from 3 to 500kg.
* It also manufactures servo-powered positioners, simplifying integration and giving the customer a single source of supply and responsibility.