ABB Offers Cobot With Expanded Loading Capacity

ABB offers the new Swifti CRB 1300 industrial collaborative robot, which is said to combine leading speed and accuracy with an expanded load-handling capability of up to 11 kg. The Swifti CRB 1300 can be used in a wide variety of production and product handling applications — from machine tending and palletizing to pick-and-place and screwdriving.

The Swifti CRB 1300 incorporates several features that ABB claims can improve production efficiency by up to 44% compared to other cobots in its class. In a typical palletizing application, Swifti’s speed and performance enable it to handle up to 13 boxes per minute compared to the nine boxes possible with other cobots in its class.

Powered by ABB’s OmniCore C90XT controller, the Swifti CRB 1300 is designed for tasks requiring consistent accuracy and repeatability. The Swifti CRB 1300 features a top speed of 6.2 m/sec and payload options from 7 kg-11 kg enabling it to perform a range of high-payload tasks including screwdriving, assembly, pick-and-place and palletizing. With protection against dust and moisture (up to IP67), it can also be used in demanding environments, making it ideal for machine-tending applications.

The Swifti CRB 1300 prioritizes operator safety, with a safety laser scanner integrated with ABB’s SafeMove collaborative safety software. The technologies enable safe collaboration to be achieved without the space and cost associated with installing protective fencing or other physical barriers.

If the laser scanner detects a worker within Swifti’s operating area, ABB’s SafeMove software will automatically slow the robot or stop it completely. As the worker moves away, movement will be restored, returning to full speed for full productivity only once the working area is completely clear. As a further protective measure, a built-in interaction status light provides a visual indication of the cobot’s status when a worker is within the workspace area. SafeMove’s software add-ins enable workers to quickly set up a safe working zone and other safety features using their handheld FlexPendant operating unit.

Users can set up the robot by either physically guiding it through a process (lead-through programming), or through ABB’s new Wizard Easy Programming software. Based on simple graphical blocks, Wizard Easy Programming makes programming accessible for non-specialists in robotics.

The Swifti CRB 1300 is part of a wider cobot portfolio covering payloads from 0.5-11 kg, with options including the YuMi single and dual-arm robots, the GoFa CRB 15000 and the Swifti CRB 1100 industrial collaborative robot for payloads up to 4 kg.