Grob Robot Cell Enables Long Periods of Unmanned Operation

Grob Systems Inc. has introduced its new, compact GRC-R12 robot cell, which offers a flexible, customizable and affordable automation solution for the Grob G150 five-axis horizontal machining center.

The cell has a six-axis FANUC M-10iD/12 robot with 4.7' (1,441 mm) reach, capable of handling a maximum load of 26.5 lbs (12 kg). The GRC-R12 features a pneumatic single- or double-gripper system. The drawer feed system can have up to six drawers that can be unloaded and reloaded while the robot cell and machining center are in operation. With Grob’s specialized machine design, chip control inside the machining center enables for long periods of unmanned operation without faults. Offering high customizability, customers may select from capabilities such as a blowoff box, statistical process control (SPC) drawer and an alignment station.

The compact GRC-R12 base unit that holds the robot cell has dimensions of approximately 5' × 5' (1,600 mm × 1,600 mm), facilitating fast delivery and installation. When the robot cell is fully setup with the G150 machining center including monitors and accessories, overall space dimensions are approximately 24' (7,400 mm) length × 10' (3,250mm) width. The GRC-R12 robot cell features a side access door, providing access to the G150 machine for new jobs, fixture changes and maintenance, with a window that provides good visibility to the machine. Integrated software is designed to enable intuitive cell control.

“Our customers see a big advantage in having the automation and machining center come from the same builder because it enables a better support model to keep the cell running at high efficiency long term,” says Derek Schroeder, universal machines, sales and proposals manager, Grob Systems Inc. “Due to its flexible configuration options, we can design the compact cell to meet unique customer needs, making it possible to produce a wide variety of parts and processes on one system. Also, we prioritized minimizing the cell’s footprint to save valuable floor space.”