ATI Industrial Automation’s Net F/T sensor system gives Staubli robots a sense of touch.
Sensors at their wrists measure forces and torque to give robots a sense of touch, and thanks to a coordinated effort by ATI Industrial Automation and Staubli Robotics, ATI’s Networkable Force/ Torque Sensor System (Net F/T) is now fully compatible with Staubli robots to allow them a “sense of touch.”
The joint effort provides true plugand- play connectivity via Ethernet to Staubli CS8 robot controllers. The Net F/T transducer, with Net Box, interfaces to the robot controller via a TCP/IP socket and optional VAL3 library, which reads force values to enhance manufacturing automation.
Together, the cost-effective robot and sensor let shops automate difficult assembly, machining and finishing tasks that previously required skilled personnel or complex assembly machines.
Net F/T Sensor systems measure six components of force and torque (Fx, Fy, Fz, Tx, Ty and Tz) and are available on any of ATI’s Force/Torque transducers, and help optimize end-user robotic applications. ATI’s Six-Axis Force/Torque sensors work with a variety of robots.
In addition to providing an Ethernet and a CAN bus communication interface, the Net F/T sensor system’s EtherNet/IP interface is fully ODVAcompliant. Either Power over Ethernet (PoE) or an external power supply (11VDC or 24VDC) drives the Net F/T system. Its interface (Net Box) is sealed to IP65 (water splash proof), and its transducer and cable can be sealed to IP68 (submersible in fresh water to 10 m). Multiple transducer calibrations can be permanently stored in the system for user selection.
Advantages of the Net F/T system over conventional systems include cablebreak detection, multiple interfaces, LAN connectivity, high-speed output, Web-based configuration and demo, programmable thresholding and more.
