2009-11-16 - Cell is initially available in arc welding, material handling and vision models
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (November 16, 2009) – ABB Robotics, a leading supplier of industrial robots, has developed the FlexTrainer™, a portable, pre-engineered robotic cell specifically designed for robotic training purposes. The FlexTrainer is a fully equipped and operational cell initially available in three advanced manufacturing models: arc welding, material handling and vision guidance. The arc welding FlexTrainer will be on display at the ABB exhibit (Booth # North 32047) at FABTECH 2009, November 15-18 at McCormick Place in Chicago. With a small footprint, wheels and folding wings, the FlexTrainer fits through standard doorways and can be easily moved. Suitable for training on the plant floor, in a classroom or even in a hotel conference room, the new training cell is ideal for companies with a large installed base of robots and/or a need to frequently train operators, and for technical training at universities, trade schools and workforce development organizations.
“As the economy continues to improve the FlexTrainer will be an important tool in training additional operators for the expanding installation base of industrial robots we expect to see across a variety of industries,” said Joe Campbell, vice president of sales and marketing, ABB Robotics, North America. “We have had numerous requests for a tool like this from a wide range of both industrial and educational organizations.”
The basic features of the FlexTrainer include:
- An IRB 140 robot equipped with an IRC 5 panel mount controller
- A standard operator pushbutton panel
- Transparent guarding for easy viewing and programming
- RobotStudio online, allowing the cell to be programmed on a personal computer
Additionally, the specific application models include:
Arc welding: a robotic welding torch and welding power supply
Material handling: a robotic gripper and teaching blocks
Vision: ABB’s proprietary TrueView™ robotic vision guidance system
A three day Flex Trainer “Train the Trainer” class is included with each cell, providing programming and operational instruction and an overview of the main system components.
The FlexTrainer is also available in a virtual computer format that features identical replicas of the individual cells.