ABB paint robots "box clever" in "state-of-the-art" plant

Citation

(2002), "ABB paint robots "box clever" in "state-of-the-art" plant", Industrial Robot, Vol. 29 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2002.04929eaf.001

ABB paint robots "box clever" in "state-of-the-art" plant

ABB paint robots "box clever" in "state-of-the-art" plant

Keywords: ABB, Painting, Robots

An advanced painting plant equipped with three ABB IRB 5002 paint robots is processing 63,000 mobile phone cases a day for Banbury-based company Paintbox Ltd (see Plate 1).

Paintbox has developed the system – regarded as one of the most modern in Europe – specifically for painting a wide variety of thin wall injection mouldings, and is presently producing several million mobile phone cases a year for some of the world's leading telecommunication equipment manufacturers.

The paint plant – comprising the three ABB robots with Integrated Process System and RobView control system, spray booths, flash-offs, oven, conveyor, incinerator, paint kitchen and paint mixing/distribution equipment – was commissioned in December 1999 and has improved output ten-fold since superseding a hand spraying process.

Plate 1 One of the three IRB 5002 robots (background) incorporated into the Paintbox plant

A Paintbox spokesperson said: "It's not just the speed of the robots that is important, we also rely on their astonishing accuracy and repeatability to achieve a consistent, high quality paint finish. Indeed, the robots can spray a base coat which is just 10 to 20 microns (10 to 20 thousandths of a millimetre) in thickness, followed by a clear lacquer coat 20 to 30 microns thick – held within tolerances of 5 per cent."

The IRB 5002 is an advanced paint robot that can be configured with a variety of arm and mounting options (floor, wall or suspended mounting) as well as a wide range of integrated paint equipment allowing it to be "tailor-made" to suit customers' needs.

The robot uses an accurate spray gun triggering system, built-in spray gun delay compensation, conveyor tracking, patented hollow wrist design with integrated paint and air hoses, and fully balanced manipulator throughout the whole working envelope, to contribute to the achievement of high quality, low cost manufacturing.

Additionally, ABB's Integrated Process System actively controls atomizing airflow, fan width and paint flow that together produce considerable paint savings.

Paintbox's highly successful operation is currently running a "double-day" shift and may soon extend to "round-the-clock" operation. The production line is also likely to be expanded with the addition of two more IRB 5002 paint robots.

For further information contact: David Marshall, ABB Automation, Auriga House, Precedent Drive, Rooksley, Milton Keynes MK13 8PQ, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 01908 350300; Fax: +44 (0) 01908 350301; e-mail: david.marshall@gb.abb.com Web: www.abb-co.uk