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ABB makes its Scara robot debut

11 January, 2016

ABB has entered the competitive market for Scara (selective compliance articulated robot arm) robots for the first time with a family of three modular robots capable of handling loads up to 6kg and achieving reaches from 450–650mm.

The four-axis IRB 910SC robots are aimed at applications requiring fast, repeatable point-to-point movements, such as small parts assembly, palletising, and materials-handling. The main target markets are food packaging, medical and pharmaceutical manufacturing and packaging, and electronics assembly and testing.

ABB’s goal when developing the new robots was to fill the gap in its small robot portfolio with a competitive four-axis Scara robot which could be used for small parts assembly, machine-tending, and pick-and-place applications requiring compact, fast and precise robots.

“When designing the IRB 910SC, we emphasised speed and accuracy,” says Phil Crowther, ABB’s product manager for small robots. “While small in size, the robots incorporate the same high performance and design concepts as other ABB small robots, such as superior path control and accuracy in a small footprint.

“Our Scara family is ideal for customers requiring rapid cycle times, high precision and high reliability for their small part assembly applications, and is suitable for laboratory automation and prescription drug dispensing,” he adds. “Variable reaches of 450, 550 and 650mm offer customers the option to choose the best arm for the job.”

ABB's new family of Scara robots has been designed for speed and accuracy

The tabletop-mountable robots are IP54-protected against dust and liquids. They weigh 24.5kg and have a footprint measuring 160 x 160mm. Cables and air are routed internally.

ABB is entering a crowded market with more than 100 Scara products already available from suppliers such as Epson, Kuka, Denso, Yaskawa, Yamaha, Mitsubishi, Staubli, Toshiba and Adept. It is initially targeting the most competitive part of the market ­– for robots with payloads from 5–6kg and reaches from 350–600mm – but is also looking at adding bigger and smaller models in future.




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