Universal Robots UR3 lightweight collaborative tabletop robot

Universal Robots has launched the UR3 robot, an affordable, 6-axis, collaborative tabletop robot that has a payload of 3 kg and weighs 11 kg. It has a reach of 500 mm and allows for 360° rotation on all wrist joints and infinite rotation on the end joint.

The robot is suitable for products that require speedy, precise and consistent movements between waypoints. From pick and place and assembly to polish, glue and screw applications, the robot enables manufacturers to maintain uniform product output. For example, the robot can pick up screws, mount and tighten them while applying the correct torque.

The robot can be deployed in confined workspaces where the construction of large safety guarding is not feasible, or in environments with toxic or hazardous materials. It has 15 advanced, adjustable safety settings, including a force-sensing feature that enables the robot to limit the force on impact if it encounters an obstruction. Its default is to sense a force of 150 N, but it can be programmed to cease all movements if it encounters a force as low as 50 N along its path of motion.

The robot features 0.1 mm repeatability and can follow the outline of a surface by ‘feel’ rather than through the programming of precise movements and coordinates, which otherwise would require more than 100 data points programmed into the application.