As robots are getting smaller and more flexible and can be used for a wide range of applications and for various cell systems, the question of component handling has become more important. Especially when assemblies are transported on workpiece carriers (WT) within a conveyor system. Due to their weight and dimensions, such workpiece carriers are difficult to move, especially for small 6-axis robots. These WT often exceed the possible payload of 6kg and are therefore simply too heavy for small, flexible robot solutions. This is why a new generation of WT was developed, which is an attachable and product-specific satellite carrier. This satellite workpiece carrier sits on the actual transport workpiece carrier and is picked up directly by the robot and/or a handling kinematic system. The satellite carriers are then transported to the individual processes. The satellite carrier is only used to move the assembly within a special soldering system, for example. After completion of the processes, the carrier is set down again on the conventional WT waiting in front of the soldering machine.
Due to the material and energy efficiency, the satellite carriers are always manufactured in lightweight design. This also makes it possible to integrate smaller robots with lower payloads into cell concepts, thus reducing costs. The satellite carriers can be acquired easily and quickly, and can be converted swiftly when changing products or variants. As a result, a complete workpiece carrier and buffer or WT storage for each product variant is no longer required. Additional spare parts storage and further investment costs are not necessary either. The greatest advantages of the satellite workpiece carriers are thus reduced material and space as well as time, noticeable increases in production, cost efficiency and sustainable flexibility.
Do you have questions regarding this matter?
Your contact person: Matthias Fehrenbach
Company: Eutect GmbH
