“Industrial companies are looking for efficient ways to integrate robotics into their operations for process optimization and agility,” says Rockwell’s Blake Moret, “Rockwell Automation’s collaboration with Comau will simplify programming and lifecycle management.”
Engineers be able to programme their machines in one environment, including Comau robot arms controlled through Rockwell Automation’s Logix-based controllers.
Rockwell Automation’s Studio 5000 automation system design software gets traditionally separate machine control and robot systems to work together using two different software tools.
Machine builders, system integrators, and others will gain development and deployment efficiencies through the use of digital engineering tools like Rockwell’s Emulate 3D digital twin software, which creates digital models of production lines, auto-generates machine control code, and has built in capabilities for Comau robots.
The combined Rockwell and Comau solutions will allow the use of analytics and digital twin tools to gain deeper insights into machine performance and potential production optimization. They can also use safety and security solutions to reduce business risks.
Operators on the manufacturing floor who use Rockwell’s FactoryTalk software suite will benefit from being able to see both line and robot control systems on a single interface.
In-plant and remote technicians will only need to learn and maintain one architecture to monitor both systems.
They can also leverage Rockwell’s AR tools to improve lifecycle and service cycle maintenance.
.Rockwell products and technology that will be used in robotics integration include:
- Allen-Bradley ControlLogix control systems
- Kinetix 5700 servo drive platform
- Studio 5000 automation system design software
- FactoryTalk View human machine interface (HMI) software
- FactoryTalk InnovationSuite powered by PTC digital transformation software suite
- Emulate3D digital twin software
- PTC Vuforia AR tools for remote collaboration and information capture
Comau’s robot range includes more than 40 different industrial robotic arms, with load capacities from 3 to 650 KG.