Kuka: Material test with 5,000 kg pressure

Unexpected things often happen. Yesterday I was at the Augsburg Technology Center on the occasion of a research project meeting. The highly modern and spacious area is maintained by the city of Augsburg and houses numerous research institutes/colleges/universities as well as companies incl. startups. The complex includes the laboratory "WiR - Wissenstransfer Region Augsburg". Among other things, two Kuka KR 1000 titan are located there. Intended for lifting objects weighing up to 1.3 tons, they are being used for other purposes as part of a research project.

Robots are actually ideal for testing materials

Typical material test equipment can apply pressure, but is very rigid in doing so. This may be sufficient for simpler geometries, but not for more complex shapes. In addition, Augsburg is home to the MAI Carbon cluster. This includes manufacturers such as SGL Carbon, processors and users such as the aerospace industry, so far also automotive (BMW i3) etc. (MAI stands for Munich-Augsburg-Ingolstadt). Fiber composites (CFRP) make it possible, for example, that the chasis of a helicopter (photo) can be lifted loosely with one hand. But is it strong enough?

The load capacity can be determined by calculation, but a safeguard is better. A robot is able to accurately trace the contours of the part under test. This is the task of the two Kuka. They press on the part with an equivalent of 5 tons. When I asked whether this would not be to the detriment of the joints (wear), I received the answer that the movements would be extremely slow. For material testing, this is an advantage, because a part is loaded longer in this way. This extreme slowness in turn protects the robot, so that 7 tons would probably also be possible.

Are we networking? LinkedIn
-> To the Cobot group on LinkedIn (Link) .

In my own right/advertisement
The author of this blog is significantly involved in the AI/robotics project Opdra. He advises robotics companies and investors on market analysis and funding/subsidies. More about him can be found here.