Page 40 - MetalForming-Feb-2018-issue

Fabrication: FABTECH
Robotic Inspection System with 3D Vision
ABB’s signature display combined the flexibility and pro- ductivity of robotic manipulation with state-of-the-art inspection technology. The company’s new robotic-inspec- tion system with integrated 3D vision uses digital scans to detect defects on manufactured parts. The digitalization inherent to ABB Ability, a range of the company’s optimization and automation products, monitors the status of all weld- ing-system components, delivering timely and actionable information. The system consists of a 3D white-light scanning sensor mounted to the arm of an ABB robot, relying on the agility of the robot to provide the precise movements nec- essary for the sensors to access most areas of simple and complex parts from the optimum angle. Sensor technology rapidly records and compares detailed geometric and surface data with digital CAD models, enabling the automated inspection of manufactured parts and pieces. The payoff: Users can reduce cycle times while raising quality and reduc- ing the risk of quality-control errors.
In the FABTECH display, a sensor mounted to the arm of an ABB IRB 4600 robot (a general-purpose model optimized for short cycles) simulated the inspection of a metal com- ponent spot-welded by an IRB 6700 Lean ID robot (a medi- um/heavyweight model featuring an ABB spot-weld gun). A compact, high-payload-capacity IRB 2600 robot shuttled the part between the inspection and spot-welding robots. ABB: www.abb.com
Economical Compact Waterjet Cutting for Prototypes and Low-Volume Work
Omax Corp. debuted the unique ProtoMax abrasive- waterjet machine, designed for prototyping, light industry, technical education, artists and the maker movement. Its show-floor demonstration drew a large, inquisitive crowd at FABTECH, especially those looking to cost-effectively explore waterjet-cutting technology as an addition to their fabricating businesses.
ProtoMax proves ideal for prototyping and relatively low- volume cutting of almost any material less than 2 in. thick. It brings all the versatility benefits of larger machines in a compact package that can well-serve small job shops, engi-
neering classrooms, makerspaces and per- sonal use, according to Omax officials. It also can be an ideal addition for large shops that need occa- sional waterjet capa- bilities to complement other capabilities.
Delivering 30,000-
psi cutting power with
a 5-hp pump, Pro-
toMax submerges
work material in water for clean, quiet cutting that won’t disrupt a shared workspace. Intelli-Max software controls programming of part files and the cutting operation.
“It’s easy to program even complex paths on the Pro- toMax,” says Stephen Bruner, Omax vice president of mar- keting. “We’ve taken many of the same popular CAD/CAM software features that we use in our industrial waterjet sys- tems and incorporated them into this machine.”
Omax: www.omax.com
Robotic-Welding Power Source
In its expansive FABTECH real estate, Lincoln Electric unveiled the Power Wave R450 for high-performance robotic welding. Rated for 450 amps at 100-percent duty cycle, the
robotic-welding power source is equipped with Lincoln Electric’s Waveform Control Technol- ogy featuring a com- prehensive portfo- lio of welding modes, including gas-metal-arc, gas- tungsten-arc, flux- core and advanced pulse modes specif- ic for nickel, stain- less, and low- and high-alloy steel as
thin as 0.6 mm. The power source delivers rapid travel speeds, low spatter gener- ation and high gap-bridging capability, and is engineered for automotive, heavy-fabrication and general-fabrication
environments.
The Power Wave R450 features the ArcLink robotic-com-
munications interface, which provides plug-and-play capa- bility with leading robot manufacturers. It also provides Wi- Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, allowing welding operations to quickly access and track essential welding data with Lin- coln Electric’s CheckPoint production-monitoring software.
Lincoln Electric: www.lincolnelectric.com
38 MetalForming/February 2018
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