Robotic Speed and Precision on Display

Sepro has paired its fastest robot — an S5-25 Speed robot — with its 5X-25 unit, adept at complex and precise part maneuvering, in a demo where they take turns manipulating five blocks on a conveyor that runs between the two robots. The blocks, which have printed letters and logos on them, will be positioned by the robots to show different messages to attendees.

Initially, the Sepro logo is visible on the front face of each block, then in rapid fashion, the Speed robot turns the blocks so that letters on their faces spell out S-P-E-E-D. The blocks are conveyed down to the 5X robot, which uses its multiaxis servo wrist to twist and turn the blocks until the letters on the face spell A-G-I-L-E.

In between spelling, the robots undertake other tasks to demonstrate their capabilities. After spelling “SPEED,” the Speed robot turns to a table to its right and stacks and unstacks a collection of oversized Jenga blocks in a matter of seconds.

After it has spelled AGILE and the blocks have started to return to the other end of the conveyor, the 5X-25 will pick up a larger block and show off its wrist functionality by manipulating the block in a choreographed pattern. The robot turns the block to show five different sides with words that spell out … DISCOVER … INFINITE… POSSIBILITIES … WITH … SEPRO 5X AND 7X.

Jim Healy, vice president of marketing and sales for Sepro, acknowledges a serious message behind the fun of the demonstration. “We understand that different molders have different needs,” Healy says, and whether the job calls for speed, precision or both, Sepro can supply a robot.

Both robot lines are based on the same Cartesian platform, with a rigid structural frame and Prismatic linear guides to withstand acceleration stresses and support heavy payloads. Both utilize servo motors on the X,Y and Z axes of motion, while the 5X models have two additional servo axes in the wrist, and both use the Visual control system.