Hello,
We are a architecture and construction firm in Arizona specializing in shipping container architecture. We also engage in art/architectural installation design and fabrication. We are looking to add a robot to our team, with the primary goal of utilizing it to plasma cut door and window openings into shipping containers. We will turn a container into a mobile workcell of sorts. The container side/top will open revealing the robot on a linear track; another container(the one to be cut) will be moved next to the workcell container; the robot will plasma cut defined openings; move container and repeat. We would also like flexibility to utilize the arm to be a flatbed plasma(within container). We have a few questions regarding the challenges in achieving the setup outlined.
1. Will an older KUKA arm work for this application? We have found a few machines and are leaning toward a KR150 with KRC2ed05 or a KR210 with a KRCed05. Will this controller and robot combo be sufficient to control the arm, add a linear track and control a plasma setup? Is there anther model/setup that you would recommend for this application?
2. Plasma cutting with a robot arm seams to be a far less common retrofit than a milling machine, are there any resources/tutorials of anyone setting up a plasma on an arm? We are cutting a vertical surface that is also corrugated so some sort of sensing or auto height control would be required. Can anyone advise to the challenges of such a setup?
3. Does anyone have a contact for an integrator (preferably freelance) that would be up for this challenge or could advise to the process associated.
4. Would KUKA/PRC be a valid method of coding this operation? We also looked into RobotMaster; can anyone advise to challenges/successes with either of these in a metal cutting application?
5. Any recommendations to EOAT solutions for plasma integration and or grinding/cutting. Would this be custom for the plasma or are there kits for such tooling attachment?
Any advice/guidance you all could offer would be greatly appreciated!
Thank You!
We are a architecture and construction firm in Arizona specializing in shipping container architecture. We also engage in art/architectural installation design and fabrication. We are looking to add a robot to our team, with the primary goal of utilizing it to plasma cut door and window openings into shipping containers. We will turn a container into a mobile workcell of sorts. The container side/top will open revealing the robot on a linear track; another container(the one to be cut) will be moved next to the workcell container; the robot will plasma cut defined openings; move container and repeat. We would also like flexibility to utilize the arm to be a flatbed plasma(within container). We have a few questions regarding the challenges in achieving the setup outlined.
1. Will an older KUKA arm work for this application? We have found a few machines and are leaning toward a KR150 with KRC2ed05 or a KR210 with a KRCed05. Will this controller and robot combo be sufficient to control the arm, add a linear track and control a plasma setup? Is there anther model/setup that you would recommend for this application?
2. Plasma cutting with a robot arm seams to be a far less common retrofit than a milling machine, are there any resources/tutorials of anyone setting up a plasma on an arm? We are cutting a vertical surface that is also corrugated so some sort of sensing or auto height control would be required. Can anyone advise to the challenges of such a setup?
3. Does anyone have a contact for an integrator (preferably freelance) that would be up for this challenge or could advise to the process associated.
4. Would KUKA/PRC be a valid method of coding this operation? We also looked into RobotMaster; can anyone advise to challenges/successes with either of these in a metal cutting application?
5. Any recommendations to EOAT solutions for plasma integration and or grinding/cutting. Would this be custom for the plasma or are there kits for such tooling attachment?
Any advice/guidance you all could offer would be greatly appreciated!
Thank You!