Software Simplifies Complex Robotic Pick-and-Pack Systems
October 1, 2014
ABB Robotics has introduced the Robot Studio Picking PowerPac which combines two ABB software technologies - RobotStudio and PickMaster 3 - into a single bundle designed to simplify both the design and programming of complex robotic picking-and-packing systems.
The RobotStudio Picking PowerPac is designed to boost the performance of picking lines, allowing systems to be optimized in the 3D virtual world before being built in the real world, with the risks in designing picking lines - such as the variations in the product inflow - thoroughly tested and refined before costly mistakes are made on the production line. The software allows for the improvement of existing lines configured using PickMaster 3 by recording current product flow with cameras and then feeding them into the Picking PowerPac for validation and optimization.
The Picking PowerPac software bundle allows users to configure the product conveyors, pick and place locations, gripper functionality, definition of each product to be handled and configuration of all products and components included in the picking system. Once the cell configuration is complete, the new software provides a fully functional picking cell simulation with accurate robot performance information. The complete RobotStudio model is then ready to be transferred directly to the robot controller for cell operation.
"The Picking PowerPac allows system integrators and end users alike the ability to easily design and develop picking simulations that will eventually run in the real world. All of the system adjustments in PickMaster 3 are available in this add-in to accurately optimize single and multiple robot picking simulations," said Rick Tallian, ABB Packaging Products and Applications Manager.
The new software will be especially effective in programming the high-speed picking and packing IRB 360 FlexPicker robot. The IRB 360 family now includes variants with payloads of 1 kg, 3 kg, 6 kg and 8 kg and reaches of 800 mm, 1,130 mm and 1,600 mm.
For more information contact:
ABB Robotics, Inc.
1250 Brown Road
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
248-391-8622
www.abb.com/robotics
< back