FANUC addresses increased demands with new SCARA pick & place robots
Handling operations are now the most popular application for industrial robot purchases, representing 52% of UK installations in 2021. But as well as speed and dexterity, today’s pharmaceutical manufacturers are also looking to maintain rigorous hygiene standards when automating their handling applications.
To this end, FANUC has launched two additions to its SCARA pick-and-place robot range: the cleanroom-standard, pedestal-mounted SR-3iA/C three-axis and SR-6iA/C four-axis robots. Ideal for replacing manual labour in handling tasks, they also boast novel anti-contamination features, meeting the highest safety and hygiene standards in even the most challenging pharma settings.
Superior hygiene standards
Standing for Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arm, the latest SCARA models from FANUC sport a white epoxy coating as opposed to the yellow usually associated with the brand. This is not an aesthetic choice; the white coating is designed to provide extra durability. The robots are certified to IP54-rated levels of protection against ingress of water, dust or other contaminants, and also meet ISO Class 5 cleanroom standards.
Responding to Annex 1 revision
The launch of FANUC’s latest SCARA robot models could not be timelier, coming soon after the release of the EU’s revision of Annex 1 for sterile drug products, which is set to take effect on 25th August 2023. Reflecting changes and updates in cleanroom, equipment and utility design, the revision emphasises the expectation that the manufacturing process and associated activities, equipment and facilities are proactively managed to identify risk.
Regulatory bodies anticipate that elements of Annex 1 will also apply to manufacturers of non-sterile products. FANUC believes the incorporation of anti-contamination features designed to maintain the highest safety and hygiene standards will make the latest additions to the SCARA robot family particularly suited to increasingly demanding pharmaceutical production environments.
Compact footprint
Besides their ultra-hygienic properties, the new SCARA models also offer a compact footprint, allowing for the integration of smaller workcells with no loss of performance. Their 360-degree envelopes allow integrators to exploit the full reach of the robots within smaller cells, also minimising physical interference with nearby devices or work areas. Services including power supply, solenoid valves and pneumatic airlines are fully integrated within the robot arm, further helping to reduce interference contours and snagging.
Performance: "raising the standard"
Despite its compact footprint, the SR-3iA/C boasts a 3kg payload, a 400mm reach and a maximum push-down force of 150 Newtons. Meanwhile, the SR-6iA/C has a 6kg payload, a 650mm reach and a maximum push-down force of 200 Newtons. High speed comes as standard with both models, too. Depending on the application, up to 120 cycles/minute is possible, with no loss of precision: the robots are accurate to ±0.01mm in the linear axes and 0.004O wrist rotation. The wrist also offers ±720O of motion and 3,000O/second speed, with continuous rotation as an option.
Easy to use and energy efficient
FANUC’s SR-3iA/C and SR-6iA/C are also completely compatible with the company’s latest R-30iB Compact Plus controller. The web-based user interface, which employs FANUC iRProgrammer software, is said to deliver fast, intuitive, platform-independent set-up capabilities, with teaching and programming provided via a tablet or PC. No specialist tools or interface units are required.
Average power consumption is 0.25kWh in the case of the SR-3iA/C, and 0.35kWh for the SR-6iA/C, running on 200-230V single-phase power supply. Both robots are fully equipped for standard, static operations but can, optionally, be fitted with fully integrated FANUC iRVision visual detection and iRPickTool systems for intelligent tracking of goods on a moving conveyor.