Intelligent handling in the factory of the future

Dr Ulf Lehmann, Head of the Linear Motion Business Unit at Bosch Rexroth (Image credit: Bosch Rexroth AG)

It's hard to imagine factory automation systems without linear robots. Linear robots are used in applications involving the handling of incoming material during the production, assembly or packaging of products.

Whether they are integrated into a single machine as pick-and-place cells or into a semi- or fully automated production line.

However, the design, configuration, commissioning and programming of multi-axis systems has long been recognised as a complex, time-consuming process that requires a large number of different interfaces.

At the same time, the ever-present competitive pressure and the need to reduce costs and save time make their application more difficult.

Fortunately, the current trend towards digitalisation is also contributing to the rapid development of intelligent subsystems.

Bosch Rexroth has risen to the challenge and developed new solutions that make the selection of multi-axis systems and their integration in the production line easier and more straightforward

With modern, intuitive electronic tools, we can help technical and construction experts find a suitable Cartesian robot in just a few minutes.

Over decades of use, we have gained extensive knowledge and put it to use.

Users can now simply enter their application data and, on that basis, receive advice on the appropriate multi-axis system, including motors, connecting elements and energy supply.

This includes aspects such as motors, connecting elements and energy supply. More detailed specifications can then be added in the connected online configurator via a 3D live preview.

Rexroth multi-axis systems are also available as intelligent linear robots with pre-installed software.

A wizard programme intuitively guides the user through the commissioning process, and the drive controller can be parameterised automatically after connection.

The handling process itself is no longer laboriously programmed, but can be carried out via drag-and-drop operations in combination with the appropriate function modules.

This can be done without the need to enter complex code and without the help of experts.

We are very proud of this progress. By combining state-of-the-art components with innovative functionality.

Linear robots are now a more attractive front-end device for a wide range of applications.

They play a key role in process optimisation by reducing engineering effort and increasing productivity to a new level.

While we continue to develop handling solutions based on our vision of an efficient factory of the future, we are also advancing our development work in the field of sensor systems.

Our newly developed sensor compensation module Smart Flex Effector will also make handling systems even smarter.

This robot-mounted solution combines the precision of a robot with the sensitivity of a hand and opens up new fields of application for robots and Cartesian systems.

The factory of the future is just a few clicks away.