OnRobot Takes Fully Electric Approach With New Robotic Sanding Tool
Changing the way traditional sanding is done, OnRobot recently released its robotic sanding tool, the OnRobot Sander.
OnRobot, a Denmark-based collaborative end-of-arm automated tooling company and first-place recipient of the 2019 LEAP award for Industrial Automation, recently announced the release of its robotic sanding tool: the OnRobot Sander.
The OnRobot Sander. Image courtesy of OnRobot.
The OnRobot Sander is an automated electrical solution to sanding, finishing, and polishing that integrates into existing robotic systems while offering a quieter operation than its pneumatic counterparts.
The OnRobot Orbital Sander
OnRobot recently released their fully electric random orbital sander designed for producing consistent surface finishes on a variety of materials. This automated sander eliminates health risks such as “white finger” syndrome and lung issues that often go along with manual sanding operations while also increasing productivity in a cost-efficient manner.
Similar to products such as their intelligent screwdriver, the OnRobot Sander is plug-and-play and comes with everything needed for deployment.
Key Features of the OnRobot Sander
There are several distinguishing features of the OnRobot Sander, beginning with the fact that it is entirely electric. This approach eliminates the issues related to noise, efficiency, control, and high operating costs that users often experience when using pneumatic automated sanding systems. Unlike others on the market, this automated sander uses a brushless electric motor power with speeds up to 10,000 RPM. This electric approach also means that it is lightweight, weighing in at just 1.2 kg (2.64 lb) with a sanding pad attached.
The OnRobot sander also provides out-of-the-box deployment with a plug-and-play approach to its design. This includes a straightforward approach to programming that supports both manual setting of waypoints and the use of a teaching pendant, different path planning, and other key settings that make its use very intuitive.
The OnRobot orbital sander is easy to deploy thanks to its plug-and-play design and interfaces seamlessly with a wide variety of robotic arms. Image courtesy of OnRobot.
This automated sander also comes with the OnRobot’s HEX force/torque sensor that allows it to quickly adapt to part misalignment and variations in surface, which reduces the scrap rate and improves overall consistency. It also comes with an optional Grit Changer that supports fully automated cycling through various sanding grits without requiring any operator intervention.
Applications of the OnRobot Sander
The OnRobot Sander is designed for use with various materials and parts and is useful for almost any automated surface finishing operation, including sanding, cleaning, polishing, and buffing. It is integrated with virtually any collaborative, lightweight robot brands, including Universal Robots, Kuka, Fanuc, Doosan, and Denso.
Industries that would use the OnRobot sander include those that depend on automated material removal processes. This includes automotive manufacturing and industries that manufacture wood, metal, or plastic products that require finishing or polishing.
While the OnRobot Sander is not the only automated orbital sander on the market (for example, ATI Industrial Automation has a pneumatic-powered model), it is unusual in its fully electric approach and brush-free motor. The Sander is available for order and comes with the sanding tool, the force/torque sensor, standard 3M pads and grits, and grit changer.
The design makes it ideal for facilities that are new to automation. Its performance and capabilities mean that it can be used effectively as a part of larger automation domains.
