Robot Options
Visit ABB’s Robotics website for their product range.
An ABB robot is constructed from an option list. On this page you will find hardware and software options which are often used.
Foundry protection
Option: 287-x
Most of the ABB manipulators have standard an IP67 protection (IP stands for Ingress Protection) against dust (6) and water (7). But the IP67 protection does not say anything about corrosion protection. As main construction materials ABB uses casted aluminum and steel. Both easily get affected by corrosion. Therefor robots are painted.
To give a robot a better corrosion protection, painted parts are painted with a 2K paint and blank metal parts are protected with a corrosion protective metal layer. Also electronic parts are better protected.
The better corrosion protection is called Foundry Protection by ABB. Many robots can get equipped with this option.
Customer connections
Most of the ABB robots have quite some control connection possibilities on the manipulator to be used for control of tools attached to the robot.
Connector kits are optional available to make connection of a tool to the robot.
The cables and hoses belonging to the connectors are routed through the manipulator to the foot of the robot. From there optional cables go to the robot controller.
Inputs and Outputs
The ABB robot controller has plenty of IO possibilities.
SafeMove
Option: 1125-x
SafeMove is a safety controller in the robot system. The purpose of the safety controller is to ensure a high safety level in the robot system using supervision functions that can stop the robot and monitoring functions that can set safe digital output signals.
Note that SafeMove is one component in a cell safety system, normally complemented by other equipment, e.g. light barriers, for detecting the whereabouts of the operator.
Absolute Accuracy
Option: 603-1
Absolute Accuracy is a calibration concept that improves Tool Center Point (TCP) accuracy. The difference between an ideal robot and a real robot can be several millimeters, resulting from mechanical tolerances and deflection in the robot structure. Absolute Accuracy compensates for these differences.
MultiMove
Option: 604-x
MultiMove means that more servo driven devices (manipulators but also other devices like track motions and external motors) are controlled by one controller. Up to four manipulators is possible.
The differentiator here is that all manipulators can act as one robot. It’s to choose to let the manipulators operate coordinated or independent.
Conveyor tracking
Options: 1550-1, 1551-1, 1552-1 and 606-1
For a first step towards conveyor tracking a Conveyor Tracking Module (CTM) is needed (option 1550-1: internal or 1551-1: external).
For the first robot is beside of the CTM only the option Conveyor Tracking software (606-1) needed. For all the next robots a Conveyor Tracking Unit Interface (1552-1) plus 606-1.
Indexed Conveyor Tracking
Conveyor tracking of an indexing conveyor is in optima forma possible when giving the robot complete control over the motion of the conveyor by means of attaching an external robot axis to the conveyor.
PC Interface
option: 616-1
PC Interface provides the communication interface between the robot controller and network connected PC’s.
SoftMove
Option: 885-1
SoftMove is a cartesian soft servo option that allows the robot to be compliant or floating in order to adjust to external forces or variations in work objects. SoftMove can lower the stiffness of the robot in one or several pre-defined cartesian direction(s) (in relation to either the tool or the work object) while keeping the original behavior in the other directions. The behavior of the softness is controlled by two parameters Stiffness and Damping. With SoftMove, the robot is compliant in the specified direction(s) only which facilitates high accuracy and reliability. The option reduces robot programming time and enables effective interaction between robot and machine, which reduces cycle time
Collision detection
Option: 613-1
To minimize the impact of an eventual collision a robot can get equipped with collision detection software. The software will achieve that a robot will react more quickly.
Collision avoidance
Is for the IRC5 robot controller part of the collision detection option.
This software will avoid collision between parts as long as the position of a part is known by the robot controller. We talk about static and motion controlled parts. Also a to a robot attached gripper can get defined.
Integrated Force Control
options: 738-1, 636-1, 661-2 and 877-1
Normally robots are position controlled with a predefined path and speed. With ABB Integrated Force Control, the robot reacts to its surroundings and deviates from the programmed path or speed bases on feedback from a tactile force sensor.
Integrated Force Control is supplied as a complete functional package of factory with a 6D force sensor, cabling, interfacing and software.
Externally Guided Motion
option: 689-1
Externally Guided Motion (EGM) is a function like Force Control but then with a guidance device (sensor) of your own choice to achieve real-time adaptive motion control of an ABB robot.
MultiFunction
option: 824-1
MultiFunction is a software bundle of common used software options, to know:
- World Zones (608-1)
- Path Recovery (611-1)
- FlexPendant Interface (617-1)
- Multitasking (623-1)
Of course all four options also can get ordered separately.
World Zones
option: 608-1
World Zones is the most basic way of defining zones within the work area of a robot. It is most often used as protection against collision. When passing the border of a zone a pre-defined action will get taken. Think about setting of an output. The defined zone can be cubical, cylindrical or spherical shaped but also can get defined as joint zones. Zones can get turned on and off.
All actions are programmed in RAPID.
World Zones is active in manual and automatic mode.
See for maximum safety the SafeMove option.
Path Recovery
option: 611-1
Most common use of Path Recovery is that a robot can move backwards and forwards on a recorded path. Is very handy when calculated position data is lost because it has been overwritten with new data.
FlexPendant Interface
Option: 617-1
FlexPendant Interface provides the possibility to download and run user-developed operator interfaces on the FlexPendant.
MultiTasking
Option: 623-1
MultiTasking gives the possibility to execute up to 20 programs (tasks) in parallel. Can be used to control peripheral equipment or other processes concurrently with robot motion.
Integrated Vision Interface
option: 1341-1
The purpose of ABB’s Integrated Vision system is to provide a robust and easy-to-use vision system for general purpose Vision Guided Robotics (VGR) applications.
The system includes a complete software and hardware solution that is fully integrated with the ABB robot controller and the RobotStudio programming environment. The vision capability is based on the Cognex In-Sight® smart camera family, with embedded image processing and an Ethernet communication interface.
RobotStudio is equipped with a vision programming environment that exposes the full palette of Cognex EasyBuilder® functionality with robust tools for 2D part location, part inspection, and identification. The RAPID programming language is extended with dedicated instructions and error tracing for camera operation and vision guidance.
Additional options:
- Medium resolution camera (1342-1)
- High resolution camera (1343-1)
- Lenses (1348-1 till 1350-1)
