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The Spiral Conveyor is used for the precise and gentle feeding of selected components using vibration.
It consists of 2 main components: the sorting bowl (Sortiertopf) and the drive (Antrieb). Three different shapes are possible: V-ZT, V-ST, and V-KT (Cylindrical, Stepped, Conical).
The standard top diameter ranges from 200 mm to 600 mm, with available pot sizes of 200 mm, 300 mm, 450 mm, and 600 mm.
The Spiral Conveyor comes with a Vulkollan coating, which protects the parts and minimizes wear on the conveying bowl.

Vibrotec - feeding system | 4 sizes

Material Feeding

Manual sizes 150-450 mm

Manual size 600 mm 

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The pots can be customized for various applications and locations upon request:

igus robolink - pick & place in a three-shift operation

Pick & Place-Roboter im 3-Schichtbetrieb

易格斯robolink - 三班倒执行拾放任务

igus robolink - 3교대 작업에 사용되는 픽 앤 플레이스

igus robolink - pick & place in een drieploegendienst

igus 機器手臂robolink - 在三班操作中拾放零件

Handhabung

Material handling

Manuseio de materiais

Malzeme taşıma

Przeładunek materiałów

Manipulación de materiales

倉儲物流

物料搬运

Materiaal handling

ระบบจัดการสินค้า

물류 산업

Movimentazione dei materiali

マテリアルハンドリング

Manipulation

material-handling

Pick & Place

Pick-and-Place

Al ve yerleştir

拾取&放置

픽 앤 플레이스

ピック&プレース

Pick &amp: Place

取放 (揀選 & 放置)

Pick and place

หยิบและวาง

pick-n-place

Spritzguss

Injection molding

注塑成型

injection-molding

Medium-sized industrial companies are confronted with high automation pressure. Robotics does not have to be expensive. A pick-and-place robot that paid for itself in record time shows how to get started cost-effectively and at low risk.

Automation with low-cost robotics helps industrial companies increase productivity and achieve consistent product quality. This is demonstrated by an injection molding system for bearing caps at the Cologne-based company igus. Whereas employees used to have to insert the plastic spherical caps into the machine by hand, this task is now performed by robolink - a robotic arm with four degrees of freedom and a reach of 510 millimeters. The arm picks up the calottes with a gripper and places them in the machine, with a repeatability of 0.5 millimeters and at a speed of 0.25 m/s. After overmolding with fiberglass-reinforced plastic and automatic ejection of the component, the process starts again. 250,000 times per year and in three-shift operation.

"With manual monotonous work in industry, there is a risk of employees becoming tired and product quality suffering due to operating errors. With the help of the introduction of low-cost robotics, we have succeeded in relieving employees and further increasing product quality," says Norman Franke, Head of Automation Injection Molding at igus. "In addition, the productivity of the injection molding machine has increased because the system continues to run even when employees are on break."

Low Cost Robotic: Investment pays off after approx. four months

The advance of robots does not have to be expensive. Quite the opposite. In this case, it is so inexpensive that even small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can experiment with automation and jump on the Industry 4.0 bandwagon. For example, a robolink costs from 2,766 euros - hardly more than a powerful home computer and many times less than comparable robot arms, which cost tens of thousands of euros. The reason for the price is that many components of the robotic arm, such as the gearbox, are not made of metal but of triboplastics. The controller from Commonplace Robotics costs 1,897 euros, and a parallel gripper from Schunk costs around 100 euros. "The bottom line is that investing in such a low-cost robotic solution is low-risk," Franke says. "We achieved the return on investment in about four months."

For industrial companies, the pressure to automate is becoming stronger

According to the online portal Statista, manufacturers sold 381,000 industrial robots worldwide in 2017 - for handling, assembling and processing workpieces. By 2021, this figure is expected to reach 630,000. The benefits of advancing automation are enormous: With their help, industry could generate additional value added of 1.25 trillion euros in 2025, predicts the Federation of German Industries (BDI). Not only because companies will become more productive, but also more flexible and individual. The key words are Industry 4.0 and batch size one.

The problem is that while sectors such as the automotive and aerospace industries are increasingly benefiting from automation and networking, many SMEs are reluctant to do so. Not only for cost reasons. It's also because of the complex interplay of components from different manufacturers - including mechatronics, control systems and software. In addition, acceptance among employees is often low because they fear job losses.

Leading robotics manufacturers united in one kit

Removing these obstacles is one of the goals of RBTX - a marketplace for low-cost robotics that unites manufacturers of robotics components in a construction kit. The electro-mechanical basic framework is formed by robots from igus, among others - including jointed-arm robots, delta robots and Cartesian robots. This basis can be expanded with individual components from various manufacturers, such as grippers, cameras, interactive software, power electronics, motors, sensors and controllers. Customers can put together a robot solution with just a few clicks. Compatibility is guaranteed, explains Franke: "Companies enjoy investment security because we have assembled all the components in various combinations and tested them in detail."

The low-cost robotic solution used in the injection molding machine from igus enjoys acceptance among employees. Because it was clear from the start: The transformation optimizes the production process, but does not lead to job losses. Because employees who previously had to struggle with monotonous tasks took part in a training course. They learned how to operate the robotic arm and even teach it new movement sequences. A three-day training course was all it took. "The control system from Commonplace Robotics was originally educational software and is child's play to operate - without any programming knowledge," Franke emphasizes. "The employees are enthusiastic about the technology because it not only simplifies the work, but also makes it fun."

Low maintenance and quick repairs: robolink ensures cost-effective operation

The automation of the injection molding system was not only cost-effective to purchase, but is also cost-effective to operate. This is because the robolink robot arm is made of tribopolymers, which enable dry running without lubricants. Accordingly, there are no costs for materials and maintenance. And repairs are also comparatively simple. To help technicians help themselves, repair instructions are documented on the Internet. In addition, RBTX offers spare parts supply within 24 hours. Franke: "It has actually never been easier to get into automation."

Produktion

Manufacturing

Production

製造業

Fabricação

Productie

Produkcja

การผลิต

制造业

Üretim

제조

Produzione

manufacturing

Automated ball bearing assembly

Automatisierte Kugellagermontage

In this video, we present an advanced solution for the automated assembly of ball bearings in production. The setup of the gantry system and the integration of the Epson Scara are shown, as well as the operation of the rotary conveyor and the Variobotic shaker cameras for precise detection and positioning of the ball bearing components. The Schunk and Schmalz grippers are demonstrated in action, handling the ball bearings safely and efficiently. The step feeder supports the process with its precise conveying technique, ensuring that the entire system operates smoothly and efficiently thanks to reliable power and data transmission. The benefits of this solution include increased production speed, reduced scrap, and improved workplace safety. Additionally, a low footprint is ensured, facilitating integration into various production environments.

Automated insertion into injection molding machine

Automatisiertes Einlegen in Spritzgussmaschine

In this video, we demonstrate the use of an automated system for inserting components into an injection molding machine. This innovative solution optimizes the production process and significantly increases efficiency.

The operation of the insertion process is shown step by step, demonstrating the precise positioning and handling of the components. The seamless integration of the insertion system into the existing injection molding machine will then be demonstrated, including the communication interfaces and control logic.

The benefits of this solution include increasing production speed and accuracy, reducing scrap and material waste, and improving worker safety by minimizing manual intervention.

An important aspect here is maintaining a low footprint.

Pick and Place customer application with RBTX vibratory feeder and ReBeL cobot

Pick and Place Anwendung mit RBTX Bauteilervereinzelner und ReBeL Cobot

Customer Tests

Testen door klanten

Tests clients

Müşteri Testleri

客户测试

Tes Pelanggan

Testes de clientes

Testy klienta

การทดสอบของลูกค้า

客戶測試

Kundentests

Test dei clienti

customer-tests

Süper düşük maliyetli

Superlage kosten

Superlowcost

Superniskikoszt

超低成本

Coût très faible

Super low cost

ซุปเปอร์โลว์คอส

Custo superbaixo

초저가

经济型

superlowcost

In this customer application, plastic parts needed to be sorted correctly using vibration so that they could be recognized by a camera and picked up by a robot through coordinate transmission. This was necessary to ensure precise and efficient handling of the parts. The RBTX Varioshaker lite, a cost-effective product designed for simple applications from the RBTX range, was used in this example.

The Varioshaker lite was combined with a Rebel robot, an ifm 2D camera, and a Schunk EGP 25 gripper. The ifm 2D camera captured the position of the sorted plastic parts and transmitted the coordinates to the Rebel robot. The robot then used the Schunk EGP 25 gripper to precisely pick up and process the parts. This combination provided an efficient and cost-effective solution for the automated handling of plastic parts.

Separação de componentes baseada em câmera com sistema de câmera 2D e placa vibratória 

Camera-based component separation with 2D camera system and vibration plate 

Op camera gebaseerde componentenscheiding met 2D-camerasysteem en trilplaat 

Separazione dei componenti tramite visione impiegando telecamere 2D e tavola vibrante 

Kamerabasierte Bauteilevereinzelung mit 2D Kamerasystem und Vibrationsplatte 

This video highlights a customer test conducted in the igus Customer Testing Area (CTA), where metal parts are isolated using a Varioshaker. Subsequently, the contours of the parts are teched into an ifm 2D camera for precise detection and analysis.

 The test demonstrates the efficiency of the Varioshaker in isolating individual parts and the capability of the ifm 2D camera to identify these parts for quality control or automated processes.

The video impressively showcases how modern technologies are applied in automation technology to optimize processes and ensure product quality.

Feeding solution of metal components with the RBTX spiral bowl conveyor

Toevoeroplossing van metalen onderdelen met de RBTX spiraalvormige schalenbaan

Soluzione di alimentazione di componenti metallici con il vibratore a spirale RBTX

Zuführungslösung von Metall Komponenten mit dem RBTX Wendeltopfförderer

Solução de alimentação de componentes metálicos com o transportador de cuba espiral RBTX

RBTX螺旋碗式振动进料器用于金属部件的进料

In the video, igus/RBTX, a marketplace for low-cost robotics, conducts a customer test with a low-cost spiral bowl feeder. The bowl feeder is used to ensure reliable feeding of small metal components to the robot. This is an important aspect of automation in manufacturing as it improves the efficiency and accuracy of robotic applications. The components used in this test are part of the wide range of robotic components offered by igus/RBTX. These components are known for their high quality and compatibility. The test serves to demonstrate the performance and reliability of the bowl feeder under real conditions.

Component feed with cost-effective spiral bowl feeder

Komponenten Zuführung mit kostengünstigem Wendeltopfförderer

Alimentazione dei componenti con un conveniente alimentatore a spirale

Toevoer van componenten met kosteneffectieve spiraalvormige doseerschaal

Alimentação de componentes com alimentador de tigela em espiral econômico

高性价比螺旋送料振动盘

The video shows a test situation in the igus customer testing area. The focus is on the feeding of small parts with a spiral pot vibratory feeder. This device uses vibrations to bring small parts into an orderly alignment and transport them efficiently to their destination. The test is conducted to verify the performance and reliability of the vibratory feeder under real conditions. This is an important step in the process of quality assurance and product development. The test is conducted specifically for a customer, which suggests that the device may be used for a specific application or in a certain production environment.

Pick and Place mit dem Varioshaker 270 und einem FANUC Roboter

Pick and Place com o Varioshaker 270 e um robô FANUC

透過Varioshaker 270 和一個發那科(FANUC)機器人來完成取放作業

使用Varioshaker 270和FANUC机器人执行拾放任务

Pick & place con Varioshaker 270 e un robot FANUC

Picken en plaatsen met de Varioshaker 270 en een FANUC robot

Bin-Picking

料框抓取

箱式拾取

Grijpen in de kist

Collecte de bac

빈 피킹(Bin-picking)

ビン詰め作業

Podnoszenie-Pojemników

bin-picking

This application video from Variobotic shows how efficiently component separators can be used in combination with industrial robots and vision camera systems.

The Varioshaker uses vibration to separate the individual components, which are then recognised by the camera. The robot thus knows where the parts are and can pick them and set the fixture.

Vibrotec - feeding system | 4 sizes

Variantes: Size 600

Variantes

Pontos fortes

1x Electromagnetic drive unit (vibratory drive)

1x Feeder pot (TN, cylindrical pot)

1x Control unit (g) for helical conveyor drive

Soluções low-cost construídas com a RBTX

Transferências

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