Kawasaki Launches Three New Series of Robots

The CP series consists of palletizing robots, to palletize boxes, bags and such in distribution processes. It includes three models, with different payload capacities: 180 kg for the CP180L, 300 kg for the CP300L, and 500 kg for the CP500L. Thus, the CP180L and CP300L each improve over their ZD series equivalents (ZD130S and ZD250S) by 50 kg of payload capacity. Meanwhile, the CP500L model now added has a body 38% lighter than its equivalent in the existing MD series (MD500N). The series also has the fastest throughput in the industry for all payload capacity ranges up to 500 kg. The CP series' wide working range, high throughput, and diverse lineup will help to speed up distribution in all kinds of industries.

The series has an enhanced drive mechanism for the Arm rotation (JT1), which is key to speeding up palletizing work. It has the fastest throughput in the industry, 2,050 cycles/h (using the CP180L with a payload of 130 kg). This allows faster process cycles, helping to speed up distribution.

The series has a wide working range which supports a stowage range of width 1,800 mm, depth 1,600 mm and height 2,200 mm. Also, there are three different models with payload capacities of 180 kg, 300 kg and 500 kg, so one can select the robot with the payload capacity best suited for the workpieces or grippers.

An operating program can be generated simply on a computer just by selecting the workpiece, pallet, and stowage pattern. Layout planning and operating simulation can also be performed, improving workability.

The CX series consists of large general-purpose robots which support a variety of applications, from handling to spot welding. It evolves further the already excellent performance of the Z series. The CX series improves movement speed, adopts a hollow arm structure, and makes the body more compact. This speeds up assembly and handling processes, improving productivity, and enables dense installation of robots. The CX series includes three models, with different payload capacities: 110 kg for the CX110L, 165 kg for the CX165L, and 210 kg for the CX210L.

High-speed operation is achieved with a lighter arm, cutting-edge vibration control, and settings that focus on the top speed. In particular, the cycle time for long-stroke operations, such as for handling, has been drastically shortened.

A hollow-core structure has been adopted for the arm base and upper arm. This is used to house the cables and hoses. Now there is no need to worry about interference with neighboring robots and peripheral equipment as when the cables and hoses were routed around the arm. It greatly improves the efficiency of offline simulations and teaching work after installation.

With the reduction in body weight and size, the footprint has been reduced over 50% compared to the existing Z series. The small footprint and generous reach allow for flexible layout with dense installation of robots.

The BA series consists of compact arc welding robots. It adopts the hollow wrist structure which has earned the large B series consistent praise in spot welding. This makes it easier to manage the cables compared to the existing RA series. Also, the arm structure has been optimized for arc welding, making it easy to manage wire feeders and cables and to achieve stable feeding of welding wire.

Adopting the hollow wrist structure proven by the B series, the robot wrist has a hollow core diameter of 45 mm, allowing cables for a variety of welding torches to be passed through.

The centers of the upper arm's length and rotation axis have been separated, allowing wire feeders to be placed in the space behind the upper arm. This is an improvement over their former position above the arm because it largely prevents wire feed cables from being bent excessively and minimizes wire feeders' interference with peripheral equipment during welding.