norelem supports robotics project by Technikerschule München

The Munich Technical School is currently developing a pick-and-place robot that can transport small steel balls quickly and precisely. The aim of developing, designing, programming and manufacturing this robot is to gain a deeper understanding in the field of robotics. However, the finished “exhibit” should also find practical application in industry.

In pick-and-place, a robot removes parts, in this case 15 mm steel balls, from a removal point and places them back at a specific location, in this case in a transport box. A sensor monitors the supply of balls in the removal point. If there are too few, the robot is programmed to fall back on an intermediate storage. The focus is on the fast execution of the task. A time of four seconds is specified for one cycle – picking up the ball, positioning it above the transport box, depositing the ball and returning to the starting position.

norelem provides bearing units and a sensor for the project. The compact bearing units offer a simple, cost-effective and reliable solution for supporting the drive shafts. Countersunk into the base plate from above and braced from below, the bearings absorb radial and axial forces. The sensor is inserted into the base plate from below. Positioned under the intermediate bearing, it is to detect whether a metal ball is in the intermediate bearing and then signal to the control system that the ball should be integrated into the depositing cycle. The IP67 protection rating protects the sensor from moisture, dust and vibrations during the operation of the robot.