Universal Robots to host virtual machine tending expo

Universal Robots (UR) is hosting a Machine Tending Expo online from Feb. 23-24 for manufacturers looking to automate.

Attendees of the expo can visit virtual booths showcasing solutions and application kits. Participants will also learn what to automate first, how to make cobots interface with the machine, whether to have dedicated cells, safe operations around cobots and more.

The event will feature educational keynotes as well as live demonstration from UR partners.

Universal Robots is building a network of Certified System Integrators (CSIs) to help with UR cobot deployment and to develop robot tending systems to address parts presentation and robot-machine communication.

Alex Webster, owner of SDMS Robotics, a UR CSI, has helped machine shops of all kinds integrate UR cobots. He calls the cobots an instrumental improvement to “machine shop automation since the advent of CNC, the pallet changer and the bar feeder.”

At the expo, SDMS will introduce the SDMS machine tending system consisting of the UR10e cobot arm, SDMS’ robot interface system, and specially designed robot mount.

Among the other vendors at the show will be ProCobots, which will highlight the company’s practical CNC machine automation solutions with UR cobots, and Rapid Design Solutions, which will show how small to medium size machine shops can automate even low-run production with cobots without major process overhaul.

Several UR+ partners will exhibit new machine tending related UR+ products and Application Kits at the Expo, among them Quebec-based Robotiq that launched the CNC machine tending kit.

The Machine Tending Expo is free to attend.