Thermo Scientific has built the F3 Robotic System, which is an articulated robotic arm having six degrees of freedom and a multitasking controller.
F3 Robotic System
The robotic system is capable of handling payloads up to 3 kg and it operates with high speed and reliability. It is an ideal solution for automatic container handling where human error is reduced greatly. The communication network of the robotic arm, through which it communicates with the sensors and external controller, is devoid of cumbersome wires. The arm is capable of retaining the stored position data up to eight weeks even after it is disconnected from the controller. The controller that drives the robotic arm is the Thermo scientific C500C, which is a comprehensive solution for complete work cell automation. The controller is a multitasking system having an advanced trajectory planner; it comes with 16 digital inputs, 12 digital outputs and 1 analog input and 4 relay outputs. Apart from these features, it is equipped with an emergency stop button,two serial ports and supports an optional Thermo scientific Teach pendant.
The robotic arm comes with features such as six degrees of freedom and encoders allow each joint to precisely position the robotic arm. These encoders are capable of retaining homing data even when there is no power supply. Diagnostic operations are carried out by the arm-mounted amplifiers that shield against electromagnetic interference. The Thermo Scientific Pneumatic Gripper holds the objects securely even when power is removed with the help of the dual-acting solenoid. In order to maintain the grip even when there is a power loss, the brake joints number one, two and three are designed as releasable brakes. The safety of the operation is enhanced by the safety beacon alerts that are activated whenever the arm is powered and is capable of moving. Finally, the use of brushless motors enhances the heat flow characteristics and helps in reducing the size of the robotic arm.