Collaborative Robot Feeds Laser Marking Machine at PACK EXPO

At the 2018 PACK EXPO East, a packaging trade show held at the Philadelphia Convention Center in April, Automation Distribution teamed up with Precision Automation, which specializes in packaging, processing and material handling systems, for a fantastic display featuring collaborative robots and custom laser engraving equipment.

The Universal Robots UR3 was outfitted with a custom plate to hold a plastic luggage tag which, when detected by a vision system, was fed into the Arca laser for nearly instant custom engraving, the details of which were entered into a connected computer.

Two types lasers are available to work with the Universal Robots arms: the CO2 laser suited for marking glass, wood and rubber and the fiber laser for metals, polymers and ceramics. The laser marking system is perfect for machine shops to laser mark small items with barcodes, dates and times. One major advantage of the laser marker over inkjet markers is that there are no consumables that require constant replacement, which is especially cumbersome at high volumes. The UR3, which is the smallest of the Universal Robots line, is also great for confined spaces with its compact design and movable weight at less than 25 pounds.

When asked why they chose a Universal Robots arm for this application, Stephen Huvane of Precision Automation explained that the ease of programming the robot was of primary importance. He went on to explain that the display was set up in a matter of hours by technicians and salespeople with no engineering support needed.

With an easy to use interface, the Universal Robots collaborative robot arm was the perfect solution for the Arca laser marking display. The system may be tailored to a customer’s specific requirements with its ability to work in small spaces, easy set up, and versatility for a variety of applications and materials.

If you missed this display at PACK EXPO, see it again live at our Hatfield, PA, office May 3. Click here to register today.