Electricity and Control June 2023

INDUSTRY 4.0 + IIOT : PRODUCTS + SERVICES

Connecting robot accessories to an industrial network

Robots need accessories to work efficiently. HMS Networks’ ready-made Anybus products offer one of the easiest ways to connect the accessories to factory networks – as recently demonstrated at RSP (Robot System Products). The number of industrial robots operating in factories worldwide continues to rise. To use robots efficiently and maximise productivity, companies attach accessories to the robots to enable them to perform different tasks. RSP specialises in developing, producing and install ing the required robot accessories. When RSP started to develop a new range of tool changers, it needed to meet customers’ expectations and provide a tool changer ca pable of connecting to the factory networks. However, developing the required networking technology is a com plicated task which is outside of RSP’s expertise. HMS assisted with an Anybus communication interface which is embedded into the tool changer, enabling connectivity with the factory’s network, and allowing RSP to remain focused on making world-leading robot accessories. RSP makes industrial robot accessories which are used in factories worldwide. “Our strength lies in the specialised knowledge gained from working with indus trial robotics for almost 20 years,” says Henrik Hofström, Marketing Manager at the company. “This specialised knowledge enables us to make robust, versatile indus trial robot accessories that help our customers improve robot flexibility and increase productivity.” One of RSP’s main product ranges is its tool chang ers. A tool changer is attached to a robot and enables the robot to change the tool quickly and safely. The challenge The requirements for smart and connected industry af fect every step in the automation process. Hence, when RSP was developing its Moduflex series, a new line of tool changers specially designed to carry heavy pay loads, it needed to provide a modern tool changer that could connect to automation networks. However, as Mats Thunell, Senior Engineer at RSP notes, “We’re experts in robotics, not industrial networking. We want to remain focused on robotics, so we didn’t want to invest the time and money to develop an in-house networking solution as that’s outside our area of expertise.

Henrik Hofström of RSP and Samuel Alexandersson of HMS.

Fortunately, we found a good solution with Anybus that allows both companies to focus on what they’re good at, robotics for us and networking for Anybus.” RSP’s networking requirements Robots need to move freely within the factory, so robot accessories must be as compact and cable-free as pos sible. To maintain the tool changer’s compact form, RSP preferred to embed the networking technology within the tool changer. It also needed a data communication inter face that would allow for easy and reliable connectivity to any factory system, irrespective of the network protocol. The Anybus CompactCom matched all the network ing requirements. RSP chose the Anybus CompactCom B40 to maintain the tool changer’s compact size and avoid extra cables. It is attached to the tool changer’s printed circuit board (PCB). There’s a CompactCom for any major Fieldbus or Industrial Ethernet, and it’s easy to swap one CompactCom for another CompactCom. This enables RSP to connect to any factory system, irrespective of the network protocol. As Henrik Hofström observes, this opens the possibility for us to expand into new markets. “We’ve started with PROFINET, but we can target new markets as there’s an Anybus CompactCom for all major networks.” Easy and reliable Anybus CompactCom is ready-made and easy to in stall, reducing the time to market for new products. The award-winning Anybus NP40 industrial network proces sor ensures that the CompactCom meets demanding performance, reliability and security requirements. “We would not have been able to develop the Modu flex series this easily without the Anybus CompactCom,” says Hofström. “It provides reliable industrial network communication and is easy to use.” HMS Networks is represented in South Africa by IDX Online. For more information contact IDX Online. Tel: +27 (0)11 548 9960 Email: sales@idxonline.com, visit: www.idxonline.com

Robots in action.

10 Electricity + Control JUNE 2023