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11kg capacity cobot promises leading speed and accuracy

22 February, 2023

ABB has announced a robot designed to bridge the gap between existing industrial and collaborative robots (cobots). The Swifti CRB 1300 cobot is claimed to be six times faster and five times more precise than other robots in its class, while its combination of a 7–11kg payload capacity and top speed of 6.2m/s is claimed to boost production efficiency by up to 44%.

The cobot, which has a reach of 0.9–1.4m, can perform a variety of tasks including screwdriving, assembly, pick-and-place, and palletising. It is said to be ideal for tasks requiring consistent accuracy and repeatability. With protection against dust and moisture up to IP67, it can be used in demanding environments, making it suitable for machine-tending applications.

In a typical palletising application, the cobot can handle up to 13 boxes per minute compared to the nine boxes possible with other cobots in its class.

The cobot prioritises operator safety, using a safety laser scanner integrated with ABB’s SafeMove collaborative safety software. Together, these technologies allow safe collaboration with human workers without the space and costs associated with installing protective fencing or other physical barriers.

If the scanner detects a worker within the Swifti’s operating area, the SafeMove software slows or stops the robot automatically. When the worker moves away, movement is restored, returning to full speed only once the working area is completely clear. As a further protective measure, a built-in interaction status light indicates the cobot’s status when workers are in its workspace area.

Integrating the scanner and software is said to be simple, with SafeMove’s software add-ins allowing workers to set up a safe working zone and other safety features quickly using a pendant.

ABB says that its new Swifti CRB 1300 robot bridges the gap between industrial and collaborative robots

“Our customers are looking to robotic automation to make their processes more flexible, efficient and resilient, helping to counter labour shortages by enabling their employees to perform more value-added work,” says Andrea Cassoni, ABB’s managing director for global general industry robotics. “The latest addition to our Swifti family is a highly accurate, high payload cobot that’s up to six times faster than other robots in its class. This means it can be used by both SMEs and large manufacturers looking for collaborative automated solutions to achieve new levels of flexibility and productivity.”

The new cobot is powered by ABB’s OmniCore C30 and C90XT controllers. Users can set up the robot either by guiding it physically through a process (lead-through programming), or by using ABB’s new Wizard Easy programming software, which is based on simple graphical blocks and makes programming accessible for non-specialists in robotics.

The Swifti CRB 1300 is part of ABB’s wider cobot portfolio with cover payloads from 0.5-11kg. An earlier member of the family, the Swifti CRB 1100 cobot for payloads up to 4kg, was announced in 2021.

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