Toshiba Machine BA-III 3-axis robot. (Image courtesy Toshiba Robotics)
Toshiba Robotics, in partnership with Toshiba Machine has begun making the use of robotics in manufacturing a bit easier - and cheaper - with the addition of plug and play capabilities to its BA-III Cartesian robots.
As all cables, junction boxes, brackets, motors and controllers are supplied with the company¡¯s actuators, end users can forgo calibration between motor and the actuator or controller.
All models include AC servo motors and absolute encoders, speeding up the robot¡¯s ability to find home position. Actuators use oil-free bearings in an effort to free up maintenance time.
The series of robots feature combinations ranging from single- to four-axis, and can be customized to meet a number of requirements.
Their flexibility has endeared them to manufacturers, including SMASHsolar, a California-based company that pre-assembles frameless photovoltaic (PV) modules. SMASHsolar is one of the first companies to install the BA-III on their production floor.
¡°Toshiba Machine¡¯s BAIII met our needs for precision, reach, adaptability and more. With the BAIII system in place, we¡¯re confident we can continue to increase production and meet our future growth plans with no assembly floor issues,¡± said Troy Tyler, CEO of SMASHsolar.
Toshiba Robotics CEO, Nigel Smith, noted the importance of advanced robotics in manufacturing.
¡°With this new Cartesian series we¡¯re seeing more capabilities being put into the hands of our customers, reducing their need to spend engineering time up front,¡± said Smith.
¡°As one of the only companies offering a true plug-and-play solution, Toshiba Machine has given our customers not only an immediate cost savings, it also provides them with the added autonomy they¡¯ve been looking for.¡±
Improved automation is essential to the growth of the manufacturing sector and ease of installation and use is a step in the right direction.
