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INTEGRATED SYSTEMS 54 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS March 2020 www.hpmag.co.uk With a collaborative robot Semcon will automate analysis of samples for an international laboratory company. The objective is to create a faster, safer process and free up time for laboratory personnel so that they can focus on more advanced tasks. Laboratory work often involves a number of monotonous and repetitive elements that can be streamlined by means of automation. At the same time, this work requires a high level of precision so that no samples are contaminated. Thomas Lydhig, technical project manager at Semcon, comments: “These new collaborative robot types are safer, quieter and more efficient, because they have been designed to work alongside people. This means that the robot can stand freely in the laboratory and not be surrounded by protective equipment, while well-trained laboratory personnel can focus on more advanced tasks.” Overall responsibility Semcon has overall responsibility for the project, from planning and design to programming and installation. The YuMi collaborative robot is being provided by Semcon’s partner ABB. The robot will be able to handle 50 samples an hour, so work will be completed twice as quickly. “The collaborative robot is about the same size as a human torso and has two arms that work simultaneously. The robot also has cameras in both hands so that it can read labels and see the positions of test tubes, for instance. It is also possible to connect the robot’s cameras so that humans can see what the robot is seeing,” says Thomas Lydhig. www.semcon.com Faster analysis thanks to collaborative robot in laboratory Fully or semi-automatic assembly of instrument panels in the automotive production process require the gripper tool to precisely position the panel in accordance with the vehicle chassis. With each chassis potentially having a different variant or position, knowing where the tool is in relation to the chassis allows for smooth marriage of the two parts. Easy installation on a robot or manipulator Due to their compact design, for easy installation on a robot or manipulator and their integrated 2D/3D profile measurement capabilities, non-contact laser profile sensors from Micro-Epsilon are used for this task. Position measurement During assembly, the gripper docks with the instrument panel module on the vehicle chassis. When the module is successfully docked on both sides, laser profile scanners from Micro-Epsilon measure the current position of the module in the Y- and Z-axes against the vehicle coordinate system. In order to determine the measurement values, reference points on the instrument panel skin are used, which are defined via specific intersections. Subsequently, these measured values are compared with predefined set point values in order to determine whether the instrument panel has been positioned correctly. When the values are calculated, an actuator is activated, which correctly aligns the instrument panel based on the reference points. In the next step, the instrument panel is fastened onto the car body. As the laser scanners perform the measurement and positioning tasks, each instrument panel module can be individually adapted to the respective car body. A laser profile scanner from Micro-Epsilon then evaluates the complete profile and transmits these measurement values via Ethernet to the control system. Proof of quality This enables the actuators to change the axis positions on the gripper in order to assemble the instrument panel in the ideal position in the car body. After the module is fixed in place, the sensor then determines the installation position of the instrument panel, which serves as proof of quality for each vehicle. For the entire process, including the fitting of the instrument panel, a cycle time of less than one minute is required. Measuring independent of surface conditions, the laser profile sensors provide reliable measurement values regardless of whether bright or dark paints are used, different gloss levels, variable surface structures and in changing ambient light conditions. www.micro-epsilon.co.uk Laser profile sensors enable precise alignment and positioning of vehicle instrument panels • On or off delay timing function • 0.2 seconds up to 100 hours timing • Base, panel or DIN-rail mounting • 6 or 8 digit totalising counters • 3 or 5 digit adding / subtracting preset counters • ATEX certified models for Gas, Dust andMining www.impulseautoma琀on.co.uk | tel: +44 (0)1264 364194 | ISO 9001 registered company Pneuma琀c Timers and Counters