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Orange Intelligenz

Orange Intelligenz

KUKA Robotics

Welcome to Orange Intelligenz, a KUKA Robotics podcast featuring key players in the drive towards innovation and automation in any market.

9 - What Is Robotics Accuracy?
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  • 9 - What Is Robotics Accuracy?

    The world of robotics is exciting, with new applications emerging. One critical factor in robotic applications is accuracy, which can be misinterpreted in the field. To dive into the topic, host Tyler Kern welcomed KUKA Robotics Senior Staff Engineer Houssaine Waled.

    Wed, 03 Feb 2021 - 13min
  • 8 - Robotics in The Entertainment and Theme Park Industries

    In a departure of sorts for Orange Intelligenz, the spotlight on robotics shifted from manufacturing processes to the world of entertainment. From the motion picture industry to themed attractions, KUKA Robotics now stars in a new role, helping these markets make fantasy a reality and bringing joy to the masses.
    Mike Beaupre, Sales Director for Entertainment at KUKA Robotics, and ED Volcic, Engineering Manager at KUKA Robotics, spoke about this lighter robotics side.

    Tue, 26 Jan 2021 - 19min
  • 7 - Why Mobile Robotics Is An Exciting Field

    That’s not unique in the automation community, but the Regional Head of Advanced Robotic Applications at KUKA Robotics has explored plenty of different avenues of robotics in her career. Right now, though, she’s focused in on one project: Mobile robots.
     
    “I find it really exciting. If you look at my CV, this is the first time I’ve stayed with the same topic for now over five years,” she said. “I think it’s that there is still so much to learn: What works best? Where else can I put it into? As I told you, one of the really fun parts is to see all these different facilities and production processes and environments, be it food production or whatever, that’s really exciting but also when you explain your technology to your potential customers and see the engineers brain working … I really enjoy it.”
     
    During the COVID-19 pandemic, mobile robotics have proved especially useful in some of those settings, with Ebenhoech noting that clients who work in labs are no longer needing to be near each other and risk the spread of the virus thanks to the ability to reply on mobile robots to perform some of their lab work.
     
    “They can do their human, highly sophisticated brainwork, but they don’t have to go to the lab all the time any more,” she said. “So, that helps a lot in the specific application. If you think about what these mobiles do, they connect workstations which are often people. Having a robot connecting these different points instead of humans helps with social distancing.”

    Sat, 14 Nov 2020 - 15min
  • 6 - The Benefits of RoboSpin for Aluminum Spot Welding with Andre Young

    Oxidation buildup is one of the challenges faced when trying to spot weld aluminum. Even when creating a good weld, oxidation can build up on the weld tips.

    “Buildup of oxidation causes inconsistencies in the welds,” Andre Young said. Young is a Business Development Manager for Automotive OEM and Tier 1 at KUKA Robotics.

    According to Young, each OEM and Tier 1 manufacturer of sheet metal has its techniques to combat oxidation issues. Sometimes, they will abrade the surface to remove the oxidation layer, and other people will perform a chemical cleaning on the aluminum. No matter the method, over time, oxidation buildup will require tip dressing to clean up the spot-welding tip.

    Another tool in the tool belt for spot welders is KUKA Robotics’ RoboSpin, application software that executes rotational motion about the TCP (tool center point) during the welding process.

    It prevents adherence of the tips to the metal, which improves weld quality and extends tip life.

    “The rotation performs the abrading as it creates the weld and wipes the tips clean as it's rotating,” Young said. “You’re getting good contact with the aluminum, reducing that resistance at the surface, directing energy to where you want it and creating a good weld.”

    Thu, 27 Aug 2020 - 11min
  • 5 - KUKA Robotics and 3M Team Up to Get Customers ready2_grind

    While robotics continues to become more and more advanced, there are some processes that still seem best done manually. They’re too complex, traditional thinking goes. But, while that may still be true for some processes, KUKA Robotics and 3M have developed a way in which weld processing can now be automated.

    That’s thanks to the ready2_grind, a pre-configured solution to automate weld grinding and blending processes.

    “The applications are primarily grinding and blending of welds. The optimum welds would be button-corner weld, where customers want to remove the weld and achieve a certain finish prior to, perhaps, painting or any other post-process they may have,” said Scott Barnett (embed: contributor page), Application Engineering Manager - Robotic Abrasive Processing at 3M.

    The ready2_grind utilizes KUKA’s KR60 robot and controller and tooling from 3M, including the Active Compliant Tool. It’s a partnership that can help customers as manual grinders become more difficult to hire and keep on.

    “The KR60 has an ideal reach at about 2.5 meters to cover most grinding applications, like weld grinding and casting grinding,” said Pat Duda, Senior Application Engineer for KUKA Robotics. “The mechanics are extremely rigid, and the path and velocity performance are really stable, also. That produces really consistent results.”

    With 3M tooling, like the 3M Active Compliant Tool, on the end of the KUKA robotic arm providing the abrasive section of the tool, the ready2_grind is a perfect example of two innovative companies teaming up and finding a way to integrate effectively.

    Mon, 22 Jun 2020 - 21min
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