Page 28 - EngineerIT July 2022

AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR ROBOTICS

Compact multi-axis system:

modular, flexible and integrated

With ATRO, Beckhoff is presenting a new concept for robotics applications. This is a modular system
from which the right robot kinematics can be put together extremely flexibly for any application.
A highlight of the system is the internal media feed for data, power and fluids. This has been

implemented in such a way that all axes are designed to rotate endlessly.

ith ATRO, users can create almost any robot design for their application from
the modules provided – from a simple 1-axis rotary indexing table application TwinCAT
Wand delta kinematics, through to multi-axis articulated robots.
Beckhoff’s holistic perspective is decisive for simple commissioning and handling, Beckhoff created a global standard
because only the direct integration of the robot system into PC-based control enables a for automation with the launch of PC-
truly optimised complete solution for the machine or plant. This reduces the number of based control technology in 1986. On
controls needed on one industrial PC, even with multiple robots. the software side, the TwinCAT (The
ATRO kinematics are made up of active joints – the motor modules. The motor Windows Control and Automation
modules are available in different designs: straight modules in I-shape or angled modules Technology) automation suite forms
in L-shape, which are designed in five power sizes. Each motor module forms a complete the core of the control system. The
drive system for one axis of the robot. The only external components required are a TwinCAT software system turns
power supply and a control, which significantly reduces the space required in the control almost any PC-based system into a
cabinet. real-time control with multiple PLC,

NC, CNC and/or robotics runtime
In addition to the active modules, there are connection modules without their own drive: systems. TwinCAT 3 is the systematic
• base modules as a base including the media feed, further development of TwinCAT 2,
• link modules with I, L and Y-shapes for implementing individual robot configurations, with which the world of automation
• system modules that can be used to integrate additional functions such as a camera. technology is being redefined.

Advantages through internal media
feed
All modules are interconnected via the
ATRO interface, which guarantees a rigid
connection and also passes through
the media that is fed in. Data, power
and fluids (compressed air, vacuum or
water) are thus guided internally through
the modules in the ATRO kinematics.
Conventional robotic solutions, on the
other hand, route them externally and
are therefore limited in rotation and
use of the workspace. This limitation is
completely eliminated with the Beckhoff
solution – each axis can be rotated
endlessly, which enables better Cartesian
accessibility as well as short positioning
paths. Furthermore, interfering contours,
With ATRO, a robot solution can be adapted precisely e.g. due to externally located cables
to the task with any number of axes, and is freely and, especially in the case of cobots,
scalable, modifiable and expandable.
interfering torques, are avoided by

EngineerIT | July 2022 | 26