ABB’s MultiMove fires the imagination

摘要

ABB has launched a new robot controller, the fifth generation IRC5. One of its major features is MultiMove, a function that enables fully coordinated control of up to 36 axes, equal to four six‐axis robots plus work positioners or other servo devices. This opens up new application areas with a combination of handling and processing robots, including balanced welding and multiple robot manipulation to increase lifting capacity and/or protect large flimsy workpieces. Benefits are higher relative speeds, minimal in‐cycle waiting and improved weld quality. Other features of the IRC5 are its modularity, with a logical split of control and axis drive functions and simple two‐cable connection, and a completely new ergonomically designed interface unit running under Windows CE.NET with full colour touch screen and Windows menus and icons.