Harry Major Machine (HMM), an automated parts handling system builder in Clinton Township, Michigan, displayed cableless robot gantry technology during Automate 2015 in Chicago. The technology is now available in North America.
Because the need to lay cable has been eliminated, the line configuration and programming can be changed more easily, even if the beam length is changed due to line modification.
HMM is the exclusive provider in North America for the gantry, which is made by HMM partner Maxrotec.
“The benefits that the cableless gantry system provide to our customers are numerous,” said H. Curtis Major, HMM president. “The system is not only compatible with a variety of robot technologies, it also has a compact footprint and helps to lower maintenance and infrastructure expenses. The system is a speedy, reliable workhorse that maximizes productivity while reducing downtime.”
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Power is supplied through an insulated trolley and collector arm, while the communication between PLCs is accomplished via an optical Ethernet transmitter using infrared light. The system is designed to work at faster speeds than traditional cabled gantries, and it can handle up to five carriages on a single track.
Because the need to lay cable has been eliminated, the line configuration and programming can be changed more easily, even if the beam length is changed due to line modification. The system also requires less space because no cable track and guarding is needed and multiple carriages can be handled on a single track.
Compatible with robot technologies such as ABB, Fanuc, Kawasaki, Kuka, Nachi and Yaskawa Motoman, the system can be utilized by manufacturers in various industry sectors in their operations.
