Robot-Ready Laser Marking Machines Hit the Show Floor

Robot automation is common in manufacturing facilities around the world on a variety of equipment. To simplify integration on its laser marking machines, Laser Marking Technologies LLC (LMT) is highlighting its robot readiness not only in its booth but also in its customers’ booths and partners Universal Robots and FANUC booths.

The company is introducing its newly developed compatibility feature called Robot Ready for FANUC and Universal Robots automation. This includes Ethernet-based communication for simplified handshaking between laser and automation, and a touchscreen PC with laser control software.

To offer even more compatibility, LMT partnered with Universal Robots and its integration team to develop URCap, which is a java-based plug-in that integrates additional hardware/software to the robot’s interface. The program simplifies communication between the laser marking system and the robot, explains Sam Palmeter, president of engineering and new product development at LMT.

“On the Universal Robot, you simply pull down on the menu, select ‘LMT,’ ‘Laser,’ ‘Cobalt XL’ (the laser marking unit name), just as if you were grabbing a pull-down menu to add a printer to your computer to install a driver,” he says.

To spread the word about its new technology for robot integration, LMT placed laser marking machines integrated with robots in several of its customers’ booths at the show. LMT and WardJet Waterjet have partnered by connecting their booth space to showcase the successful robot integration. The laser machines will mark a metal luggage tag. Then, the robot picks up the tag and hands it to the customer.

LMT laser marking machines are showcased in both the Universal Robots and FANUC booths with the providers’ integrated robots.