ABB has introduced its highest payload, multipurpose industrial robot, the IRB 8700. The robot has a reach of 3,5 m and is capable of handling a payload of up to 800 kg. “When designing the IRB 8700, we emphasised reach and payload as well as performance,” says Ola Svanström, ABB product manager for Large Robots. “Thanks to ABB’s superior motion control technology at high moments of inertia, this, our highest ever payload robot, automatically adapts and adjusts its speed to accommodate heavy and wide parts.”
The IRB 8700 offers all the functionality and expertise of the ABB portfolio in a much bigger package. The robot has only one motor and one gear per robot axis, while most other robots in this size class use dual motors and/or gears. In addition, there are no gas springs; only a reliable counterweight and mechanical springs for counter balancing. Together these design elements mean the IRB 8700 has fewer components and is able to deliver shorter cycle times and higher accuracy.
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