Igus SCARA robot delivers low-cost pick-and-place automation

A commonly cited barrier to automating manufacturing processes is cost, but this is something Igus has consistently addressed with a growing range of products within its ‘low cost automation’ (LCA) initiative – robots and devices designed to increase the productivity of tasks like electronic assembly and laboratory work while keeping the costs down. And the latest product within the LCA range is the drylin SCARA robot.

Joining the Igus robolink, drylin Delta multi-axis and gantry linear robots designed to complete basic, high speed, low payload automated tasks. With a simple design, four degrees of freedom and small footprint but relatively large working area, Igus says the drylin SCARA is ideal for applications that include small parts assembly and joining in the electronics industry.

Measuring and dispensing pharmaceutical doses in medical labs and other functions where repetitive, accurate, short travel pick-and-place type operations are needed, are also ideal for the drylin SCARA robot. Hundreds of pharmaceutical labs need to employ small, precise ‘take and deliver’ movements for dispensing and sorting fluid and powder medication. Where a human does this currently, an LCA robot like drylin SCARA could take over, freeing up the employee for higher value tasks.

Originally designed to automate fruit picking and handling, it is the wide range of potential applications that has engineers at Igus excited. “The drylin SCARA robot’s main advantages are having a compact structure with a relatively large working area, for its vertical size, while being able to operate in a fast and flexible way,” says Adam Sanjurgo, LCA product manager at Igus. “Adding another robot kinematic into the range not only expands the range of applications possible but now new companies are coming to Igus for their automation needs, for example from the electronics and medical industries.”

The robot is lightweight at just 20.6kg (RL-SCR-0100 model), features four degrees of freedom, uses stepper motor technology with an encoder to achieve the required accuracy and speed, and can complete a cycle in just three seconds. A potential vertical travel of 3m opens up applications in areas such as vertical farming.

For customers with other Igus robots, drylin SCARA robots are fully integrated into the igus Robot Control (iRC) software, which controls all Igus automated systems. This integrated control system can be supplied in a control cabinet or in a DIN rail mounted version.

A splashproof IP-44 version drylin SCARA is available for applications using fluids or where water ingress may be a risk. The drylin SCARA robot is available in three models, with increasing functionality and weight: RL-SCR-0100, 0101 and 0102. The drylin SCARA robots can also be configured by Igus for customised solutions.