At Motek 2019, the motion plastics specialist presented a new version with a workspace volume 10 times larger than the tried-and-tested model. This lightweight system for simple pick & place tasks is supplied as a pre-assembled kit or ready to install.

Thanks to the use of lubrication-free tribo-polymers, the new drylin DLE-DR delta robot from igus is not only inexpensive to purchase, but also low-maintenance in use. Thanks to a modular system, users can choose between a compact do-it-yourself kit or a pre-assembled version in a transport frame. The robot consists of three maintenance-free drylin ZLW toothed belt axes with NEMA23 XL encoder stepper motors, lubricant-free igubal coupling rods and matching adapter plates for grippers and motors. This enables fast handling of up to 5 kilograms with a precision of ± 0.5 millimeters. The new Delta robot offers a 10-fold enlarged working area with a diameter of 660 mm and a height of 180 mm, which significantly increases the reach. A calibration mandrel enables the robot to be positioned at the zero point. It is fixed to the pick-up star.

The Delta robot is particularly suitable for simple assembly tasks, pick & place tasks and test engineering applications. As a kit, it can be assembled in just 30 minutes and is cost-effective. "This means that even a small to medium-sized company can take the plunge into automation for just a few thousand euros," explains Stefan Niermann, Head of the Low Cost Automation division. According to the company, the payback period for most applications is less than six months. The robot is available as a pre-assembled kit including assembly instructions in a box or directly ready for installation in a transport frame. The customer has the option of using their own software and controller or the intuitive dryve D1 controller from igus.

Your own robot in just a few clicks

With the drylin DLE-DR delta robot, igus is expanding its range of robotic components. Based on its tribopolymer expertise, the company has been developing cost-effective automation solutions for order picking, feeding, quality assurance and assembly for many years. These include robolink DP - a modular system that allows users to assemble articulated arms with a robust and lightweight plastic housing, gears and motors to create their own robotic arm. The range also includes robolink DCi, a pre-configured, ready-to-use automation system. It consists of a 4- or 5-axis robot and a controller that is housed in the base of the gripper arm to save space. To enable customers to quickly put together their own robot solution, igus launched the RBTX.com platform together with industry partners this year. With just a few clicks, customers can put together their own low-cost robotics solution online. The basic electromechanical framework is formed by the articulated arm robots, delta robots and linear robots from igus. In the next step, the user expands this basis with individual components from various manufacturers, such as grippers, suction cups, cameras, motors, sensors and controllers. The advantage: all components are compatible with each other. This provides the user with a reliably functioning complete automation package that meets their requirements and budget.