How the e-Series Cobots Integrate into Modular Robot Cells

Let’s face it, with the accessibility of robotic automation, and the unreliable and unpredictable workforce nowadays, it doesn’t make sense not to automate your process. The robotics landscape has seen a significant change in recent years with the welcome arrival of collaborative robots (cobots), allowing for flexible, mobile, and modular possibilities.

By investing in cobot integration, factories can spend less money automating a system and earn quick returns by eliminating unnecessary downtime.

Now, machine builder and robotics integrator Allied Technology has taken the next step forward, once more reducing unnecessary costs associated with integrating robots; During his 30 years designing and building custom machinery, Allied Technology’s founder Mike Halley had a vision to create flexible, modular robot cells that can easily be implemented and redeployed when necessary. Universal Robots’ new e-Series cobots have given Allied Technology even more flexibility as they develop their new robot cells and other innovative solutions.

Here’s why Allied Technology has focused its development of modular robot cells around UR and the new e-Series cobots:

“From an integration standpoint, we really like using UR cobots. They’re easy to program and ready to use right out of the box,” Halley explains. “There is almost no maintenance needed and we rarely have to make any service calls.”

Having tested and worked with the new UR e-Series robots, Allied Technology’s Lead Robot Programmer Paul Johnson shares his experience:

“The e-series’ new built-in force-torque sensor and improved position repeatability to +/- .03mm is great. We no longer have to rely on pick points alone. Instead, I can now set the robot to stop at a certain threshold when picking up an object, which eliminates the need to add additional pieces of automation.”

For nearly a decade, Halley and his team of engineers have worked closely together to make this a reality:

“Throughout my career, I worked on many automation systems that handled an entire process with one large, dedicated machine set to run at maximum speed. This was great when everything was running perfectly, but when a problem came up, the whole system had to shut down until it was repaired,” Halley explains.

“By focusing on multiple smaller robot modules as part of a fully integrated system, you only sacrifice 10 to 20 percent of production, instead of shutting down the entire line.”

Since mainstream collaborative robots first entered the U.S. market in 2012, Allied Technology has been researching and developing innovative solutions for the growing cobot industry. Finally, they have an answer to recurring requests for the modern automation landscape.

What they are offering is a variety of robot “cells” that require minimal modifications to suit any specific application. Their in-house machining and prototyping afford them the ability to make the exact adjustments to a given project quickly and of high quality while eliminating the extraneous costs and time of outsourcing these processes.

Allied’s robot programming is very straightforward and robust so making alterations can be as simple as re-teaching waypoints, which are possible for operators and managers to complete if necessary. Their cobot and automation solutions are designed to be modular, scalable, flexible, and easily redeployed for future needs. This means any system purchased now, can be reused as products and production lines change in the future.

Robot integration for a long time was very expensive, and understandably so. A team of experienced engineers was needed to correctly integrate robots into a facility and bring complex automation equipment together safely. With the successful introduction of cobots in the last few years, the cost to automate has been reduced and ease of use has been dramatically improved. Allied’s modular robotic cells, such as their new Modular Cobot Palletizer (hyperlink to video), are making automation easier than ever before.

The collaborative robot palletizing system is a mobile, modular, and incredibly affordable palletizing solution to meet the current and future demands for the packaging industry. It features multi-pick capabilities, horizontal cross slide, and vertical lift column to extend the robot’s reach and versatility of handling small to large case sizes.

To get automated with Allied Technology and learn more about the innovative robot cells they offer, visit Allied-Technology.com. Working together, their team of engineers will help you ease into automation.

Ready for an e-Series demo? Request one now!