Data cables - how robots see them

Visually-guided robots used in production work very precisely. Demands are also made on their 'optical nerves' - namely the data cables. After a tough endurance test, the leading supplier of robot vision systems relies on a torsion-suitable solution by Lütze.

In these applications the arm of the robot moves along overlapping sheet metal on the bodywork. It places each individual welding point precisely. However, it varies minimally from its designated path occasionally and corrects a processing step to + / - 0.2 mm de-pending on the geometry of the part. This may differ slightly as a result of production or joining processes. The robot doesn't actually have eyes, so how can it see? If you take a closer look, you can see that there is a camera sensor or a laser triangulation sensor mounted close to the processing tool that moves simultaneously along the processing contour.

The measuring system measures the cut-out and controls the installation of the front pane with a level of accuracy of +/-0.2 mm(picture credit: VMT Systems)

Fig. 2: The high-performance camera uses laser triangulation to determine the position and the size of the adhesive bead for the front pane(picture credit: VMT Systems)

This automatic path correction was developed by the world's leading expert for turnkey image processing and laser system solutions: 
VMT Bildverarbeitungssysteme GmbH (Vision Machine Technic).
"The continuous automation of a variety of production processes necessitates this individ-ual processing path of each individual part by means of robot-guided applications," ex-plains Torsten Tunze, the head of production. Their ever-more powerful sensor technology demands 100 Mbit or Gigabit data streams which have long since been standard in cam-era technology. 'There is another factor that is also important for fast data transmission in robot-guided applications: torsion-suitable robot cables, that almost no manufacturer sup-plies. Once again, the longstanding partnership with LÜTZE paid off: 'We are currently us-ing an M12X assembly by LÜTZE in our latest system. This actuator-sensor cable, which was specially developed for us, is an 8-pin x-coded version of the category CAT 6A with a moulded plug.“ This is because the D-coded M12 cables that have been used by VMT for many years are no longer adequate for the latest generation of robots and sensors. The new torsion-resistant robot solution has now been added to the LÜTZE product range.

The LÜTZE SUPERFLEX® cables for the visual guidance of robots connect the cameras or sensors to the analysis computer on which VMT's image processing software runs. It fol-lows every individual movement without fail; three or five movement cycles per mi-nute. The systems run without interruption, i.e., 24/7. For those who like mental arithmetic: at four cycles per minute, this equates to more than 40,000 cycles alone in a 7-day period, which makes considerable demands on the torsion capability. 

How can you be really certain that the best solution available on the market is always used? Some time ago, VMT tested the fail-safe characteristics of cables from a number of manufacturers: the test system conducted nonstop random lifting and turning movements of the lower and upper cable attachment during permanent data transmission. After more than one million cycles with a corresponding torsion load, only the C-track suitable LÜTZE SUPER-FLEX® ETHERNET (C) remained error-free. An unusually high resistance to bending stress loads is the result of decades of close cooperation with material experts, C-track manufacturers and users. Valuable know-how of all materials, designs and production processes is included in every meter of the LÜTZE cables.Today, VMT has equipped around 4,000 robot vision systems with LÜTZE cables. So any robots out there in the world welding, setting adhesive or sealing seams, mounting car doors and cockpits, or checking gap dimensions and alignment, can keep a very close eye on what they are doing thanks to this solution.

Click the link download the latest guide to Lutze cable solutions, or call our Tech-nical Sales Team today to discuss your next project.For more information contact:

Lütze Ltd

Unit 3 Sandy Hill Park, Sandy Way, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B77 4DU

Telephone: 01827 313330

Email: sales.gb@lutze.co.uk

www.lutze.co.uk