Echternach – Our engineers have shown the way: flexible robots are now available that can lift 1350 or 1700 kg and substitute for assembly-hall cranes. Now there is a new super heavyweight, the M-2000iA with a maximum load capacity of 2300 kg.
Three FANUC robots thus hold the top spots in the big league (1350 kg, 1700 kg and 2300 kg). The example applications of FANUC heavy-duty robots thus far demonstrate the variety of possible uses: handling sand cores in a foundry (version with 1200 kg), handling steel girders (version with 1700 kg), handling bulk containers with powder (version with 900 kg) or use on a wire-drawing machine (version with 1200 kg). The new M-2000iA/2300 is ideal for the safe handling of extreme loads, such as large car bodies or projecting platforms of commercial vehicles.
To safely move such loads, FANUC retained its proven drive concept in the series and merely made adjustments to account for the higher carrying loads. Function packages such as DCS (Dual Check Safety) to safeguard certain operational spaces are available from the FANUC software module for the implementation of applications.
The M-2000iA robots perform the functions of conventional cranes or hoisting equipment. They can be used to make production processes more flexible and to increase production performance. Ro-bots such as the M-2000iA/2300 are a win in terms of safety too: dangerous or at least problematic work can be done safely. Thanks to the unrivaled load capacity on its wrist, the M-2000iA can be used to handle very large workpieces such as entire vehicle or machine beds – and that with a repeatability of ± 0.3 mm. This has also made the feeding of large machining centers or the posi-tioning for machining tasks a flexible task in this load range. FANUC even uses M-2000iA robot to handle large machine components in its own production environment.
Due to the harsh conditions that may occur in a production environment, the M-2000iA is well pro-tected, with IP 67 dust and water protection on the "upper arm" (J3) and the wrist. The wrist axis motors are positioned on axis 3, therefore reducing the size of the wrist to a minimum.
No comparative values for the operating speed of the six-axis M-2000iA/2300 are available due to the lack of competition, and high velocities are in any event not expected to due to the large masses to be moved. The focus is on secure load handling and flexibility. With J1, the robot rotates almost completely around its own axis (330°) and has the same overall movement profile as the smaller M-2000iA/1200 version.
The 2300-kg version has a horizontal reach of 3.7M and vertical reach of 4.6M. This enables the robot to reach 535mm below its base. This property is desirable if the robot is mounted on a ped-estal or on a track, for example. Vertical stroke of up to 6.2 m can be achieved with M-2000iA long arm model.
Plant designers can already put the M-2000iA/2300 robot into practice. This model of robot has also already been included in the current version of FANUC's "ROBOGUIDE" simulation software.
Read more about the FANUC M-2000iA/2300
