Explosion-Proof Collaborative Paint Robot

FANUC America’s CRX-10iA/L Paint is said to be the first explosion-proof collaborative paint robot for use and sale globally. The cobot is specifically designed for painting and powder and/or gel coating with fiberglass reinforcement and will help boost all types of paint operations including high-mix, low-volume applications. It is also designed to comply with the stringent explosion-proof safety standards required in the United States.

FANUC CRX cobots have helped automate more applications, including pick and place, palletizing, machine tending and welding, for companies of all sizes and automation experiences. With the addition of the CRX-10iA/L Paint cobot, now even operations with no robotics experience can quickly deploy cobots to automate their painting and coating processes by using “easy-teach” features, including drag-and-drop programming and “lead through teach.” The benefits of automating include better quality and more consistent finishes as well as cost and waste savings by accurately and efficiently painting.

“FANUC paint robots have been designed and manufactured continuously in Michigan since 1982. Now with the new CRX-10iA/L Paint collaborative robot, more operations will be able to reap the benefits of paint and coating automation,” says Ed Minch, sales director for Auto Component and General Industry Paint at FANUC America. “We know our customers are struggling to increase their production and efficiency to keep up with rising demand while staying profitable. Cobots that paint will be a game changer for companies that might have very little or no prior experience with robots to help them cost effectively automate within a short period of time. This is the first collaborative paint robot available for sale and use in North and South America.”

Cobots offer flexible automation with a small footprint and force-sensing technology that enable them to work safely around people. In addition to the standard safety certifications included with the CRX line of cobots, this cobot model is designed to be compliant to global explosion-proof safety certifications, including IECEx, ATEX, Canada, Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan and Brazil.

The cobot has a payload of 10 kg as well as the longest reach in its class at 1,418 mm, enabling the cobot to access large workpieces in even the most difficult of places that can pose ergonomic challenges for humans to manually reach. Featuring the same smooth and rounded design of the CRX series, the CRX-10iA/L Paint cobot is lightweight at 45 kg and has a small footprint, which can be further enhanced by stacking the control unit onto a light and compact R-30iB Mini Plus controller. Along with the other CRX cobots, this model is maintenance-free for 8 years.

The cobot is also easily programmed with the FANUC CRX Tablet Teach Pendant. Via graphical icons, first-time users can create paint path programs using the drag-and-drop interface. Intuitive paint-specific icon commands have also been added for paint applications.

Additionally, the cobot has full optimization capabilities with path editing and Roboguide software. It can easily be integrated with other equipment used in painting, powder, liquid, coating and fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP CHOP/GEL) applications, the company says.