Editorial team
InfoWeb Marketplace · Editorial team
Published on 2 July 2020 · 3 min read
Higher load capacity and a greater range of action: with the new MOTOMAN HC20DT, manufacturer Yaskawa has expanded its portfolio of collaborative robots to include a significantly larger model. This cobot is designed to handle a maximum load of 20 kg and covers a working range of 1700 mm.
Until now, cobots have been fairly small robots, mainly able to handle payloads of up to 10 kg with a reach of around 1200 mm. The HC20DT considerably broadens the range of human-robot collaboration applications: a payload of 20 kg combined with a reach of 1700 mm offers more flexibility for use in a wide variety of applications.
With this collaborative robot, operators benefit from efficient assistance, especially for physically demanding tasks such as palletizing large cartons, crates or other stackable goods. The robot, capable of lifting heavy loads, thus improves workstation ergonomics and relieves the operator. The operator can then focus on higher-value and more cognitively demanding tasks.
Thanks to its IP67 protection class against dust and water, the cobot is also used in harsh environments such as machine tool loading, where the robot often comes into contact with greasy liquids. Its high load capacity allows the use of a double gripper, very commonly used in machine tending (CNC) applications, enabling the simultaneous handling of several heavy parts. Its easy-to-clean surface and the use of food-grade lubricating grease make it a robot perfectly suited to the food and chemical industries.
The safety required in the event of direct contact with the operator is ensured by six integrated torque sensors, which allow flexible and controlled interaction between the robot and its environment. The robot arm is designed to avoid any risk of crushing, for example of fingers. With regard to French and European safety standards, the MOTOMAN HC20DT can be used - just like the smaller HC10DT model - as a robot with power and force limitation in accordance with technical specification ISO TS 15066. Depending on the risk assessment, it therefore requires no additional protective measure such as a safety enclosure, which saves space and cost. In addition, the high-performance YRC1000 or YRC1000micro control cabinets are equipped with the FSU (Functional Safety Unit) and PFL (Power Force Limit) safety functions corresponding to performance level Category 3 PLd in accordance with DIN EN ISO 13849-1. Finally, the HC20DT can be used both as a cobot and as a conventional Yaskawa industrial robot.
To further increase the robot's performance, it can also be used in hybrid mode by connecting external safety technology, for example a laser scanner. The cobot then alternates between collaborative speed, reduced speed and maximum speed, thus adapting its dynamics according to the operator's distance.
Besides safety aspects, the design of the HC20DT - like that of the HC10DT - focuses on particularly user-friendly operation. Thanks to the six integrated torque sensors and the monitoring and evaluation of external forces, the robot arm can be guided and programmed directly by hand (DT for ?Direct Teach?). This saves time when creating robot programs. The ?MOVE?, ?TEACH? and ?TOOL UTILITY? buttons mounted on the robot flange are used for programming. The new MOTOMAN HC20DT can also be easily programmed and operated using the modern, user-friendly Smart Pendant programming pendant or the conventional Teach Pendant. In addition to the HC20DT, four other HRC (Human-Robot Collaboration) compatible robot models are available in the Yaskawa range: HC10, HC10DT, HC10DT IP67 and soon the HC10DTF for the food industry.
Yaskawa unveils its new MOTOMAN HC20DT cobot for load handling
InfoWeb Marketplace · Editorial teamPublished on 2 July 2020 · 3 min read
Collaboration up to 20 kg with an impressive reach of 1700 mm
Higher load capacity and a greater range of action: with the new MOTOMAN HC20DT, manufacturer Yaskawa has expanded its portfolio of collaborative robots to include a significantly larger model. This cobot is designed to handle a maximum load of 20 kg and covers a working range of 1700 mm.
Until now, cobots have been fairly small robots, mainly able to handle payloads of up to 10 kg with a reach of around 1200 mm. The HC20DT considerably broadens the range of human-robot collaboration applications: a payload of 20 kg combined with a reach of 1700 mm offers more flexibility for use in a wide variety of applications.
Yaskawa MOTOMAN HC20DT, a collaborative robot for palletizing cartons, crates, stackable goods…
With this collaborative robot, operators benefit from efficient assistance, especially for physically demanding tasks such as palletizing large cartons, crates or other stackable goods. The robot, capable of lifting heavy loads, thus improves workstation ergonomics and relieves the operator. The operator can then focus on higher-value and more cognitively demanding tasks.
Thanks to its IP67 protection class against dust and water, the cobot is also used in harsh environments such as machine tool loading, where the robot often comes into contact with greasy liquids. Its high load capacity allows the use of a double gripper, very commonly used in machine tending (CNC) applications, enabling the simultaneous handling of several heavy parts. Its easy-to-clean surface and the use of food-grade lubricating grease make it a robot perfectly suited to the food and chemical industries.
Safety in the event of direct contact between the collaborative robot and the operator
The safety required in the event of direct contact with the operator is ensured by six integrated torque sensors, which allow flexible and controlled interaction between the robot and its environment. The robot arm is designed to avoid any risk of crushing, for example of fingers. With regard to French and European safety standards, the MOTOMAN HC20DT can be used - just like the smaller HC10DT model - as a robot with power and force limitation in accordance with technical specification ISO TS 15066. Depending on the risk assessment, it therefore requires no additional protective measure such as a safety enclosure, which saves space and cost. In addition, the high-performance YRC1000 or YRC1000micro control cabinets are equipped with the FSU (Functional Safety Unit) and PFL (Power Force Limit) safety functions corresponding to performance level Category 3 PLd in accordance with DIN EN ISO 13849-1. Finally, the HC20DT can be used both as a cobot and as a conventional Yaskawa industrial robot.
To further increase the robot's performance, it can also be used in hybrid mode by connecting external safety technology, for example a laser scanner. The cobot then alternates between collaborative speed, reduced speed and maximum speed, thus adapting its dynamics according to the operator's distance.
The focus is on a user-friendly interface available on the Yaskawa HC20DT
Besides safety aspects, the design of the HC20DT - like that of the HC10DT - focuses on particularly user-friendly operation. Thanks to the six integrated torque sensors and the monitoring and evaluation of external forces, the robot arm can be guided and programmed directly by hand (DT for ?Direct Teach?). This saves time when creating robot programs. The ?MOVE?, ?TEACH? and ?TOOL UTILITY? buttons mounted on the robot flange are used for programming. The new MOTOMAN HC20DT can also be easily programmed and operated using the modern, user-friendly Smart Pendant programming pendant or the conventional Teach Pendant. In addition to the HC20DT, four other HRC (Human-Robot Collaboration) compatible robot models are available in the Yaskawa range: HC10, HC10DT, HC10DT IP67 and soon the HC10DTF for the food industry.