Oriental Motor Introduces OVR Series of Small Industrial Robots

Oriental Motor has released the OVR series of small industrial robots made up of articulated, SCARA, and Cartesian models. To drive and control these robots, Oriental Motor has designed the MRCU series of controllers. All components are compatible with the commonly used AlphaSTEP AZ series hybrid step-servo product family.

OVR Series Robots

The OVR series of compact robots adds quite a few new possibilities to the automation space. Three separate categories of robots are part of the OVR series: articulated, SCARA, and Cartesian. All models in this series run off a standard 24 V DC service.

OVR series five-axis articulated robot. Image used courtesy of Oriental Motor

Articulated Robot

Articulated robots in the OVR series are available with four, five, and six axes of motion. Depending on the specific model, they can transport up to 5 kg of mass and reach as far away as 900 mm vertically or 880 mm horizontally (four-axis models). The five and six-axis models have a slightly reduced reach and transportable mass but have more degrees of freedom in their motion.

OVR series SCARA robot. Image used courtesy of Oriental Motor

SCARA Robot

Selective compliance assembly robot arms (SCARA) are commonly used when precision and speed are of the utmost importance. The OVR series SCARA robots have three axes of motion and are flat, making them suitable for much smaller spaces than traditional SCARA robots. These robots rotate the arm with a mass of up to 3 kg with an allowable inertia of 0.026 kg/m².

OVR series Cartesian robot. Image used courtesy of Oriental Motor

Cartesian Robot

The Cartesian robots in the OVR series move in a 300 mm x 300 mm x 100 mm (x, y, z) three space. In this space, the robot is capable of moving a 2.5 kg payload at up to 600 mm/s, meaning it can travel through its entire range of motion in half a second. All three linear slides are assembled by the factory, saving on startup and assembly time.

MRCU Series Robot Controllers and Drives

Oriental Motor has also released the MRCU series controllers and drivers to pair with the new OVR series of robots. The MRCU integrated controller and driver has both components installed in the same package. In particular, the MRCU has a built-in AZ mini drive capable of running seven motors. This makes for a compact, simple installation.

The MRCU integrated controller and driver. Image used courtesy of Oriental Motor

The MRC01 and the MRC01-C are similar motor controllers. The “C” designation indicates that it is designed for the Cartesian model. In either case, programming is performed quickly on these controllers; the operator does not even need to know ladder logic.

The MCRU series can be programmed via the free MRC Studio software package that provides support from startup to regular operation. They can be connected to devices via EtherNetIP, using Ethernet or RS-485 connections. The controller can be connected via USB for programming. Oriental Motor provides a number of cables and accessories for interfacing.

Small Part Applications

All of these modules are compact. Their small footprint and low weight make them ideal for small operations, such as handling lightweight pieces during assembly. The SCARA robots could see service in semiconductors as wafer loaders or other such machine tending tasks. Also, the ease of programming makes them a good training module for teaching new operators about robotics before turning them loose on heavier, more dangerous equipment.