Many complications have interfered with my keeping up with news. I could not make it to FABTECH this year held in early September. Collaborative Robot (cobot) developer Universal Robots (UR) introduced an extended reach cobot.
UR8 Long’s extended reach combined with coordinated multi-axis motion allows for complex weldments at consistent quality. Motion performance optimization also delivers smoother movements at maximum speed to significantly enhance fast-paced bin picking.
UR8 Long has the same 1750 mm (68.9 in) reach as the UR20 and a significantly slimmer profile, UR8 Long combines reach, stability and precision featuring an 8 kg (17.6 lbs) payload.
UR8 Long runs with both PolyScope 5 and PolyScope X, UR’s software platform, and can be extended with MotionPlus – UR’s new advanced motion control technology that allows for ease of integration with linear axis, rotary positioners and rotary turntables for precise control, smoother trajectories, and consistent accuracy.
Combined with UR’s upgraded freedrive capabilities, users can manually guide the arm with precision and ease – making lead-to-teach programming more intuitive and enabling quick, ergonomic setup even on complex parts, all without the need for layered interfaces or external tools. UR8 Long’s lighter mass – 30% less than the UR20 – and compact wrist design also makes it perfect for mounting on gantries, rails, or overhead systems, where external axes can operate more efficiently.
They showcased applications in welding and bin picking among others.
