High-tech in the cell New ABB robot cell automatically grinds and polishes

ABB Robotics has launched its first fully automated grinding and polishing cell: the Omnivance Collaborative Surface Finishing Cell.

According to ABB Robotics, the new Omnivance Collaborative Surface Finishing Cell gives small and medium-sized companies in particular the opportunity to automate key surface finishing tasks, including grinding and time-consuming polishing. The development is driven by the fact that more and more companies want to automate these processes, while many smaller businesses do not have in-house robotics expertise, even though they still have to deliver consistently high quality.

ABB says the Omnivance cell is designed to close a gap in surface finishing. Many companies are reluctant to invest in complex, customised automation systems, while standard machines often lack the required flexibility and performance. With the Omnivance Collaborative Surface Finishing Cell, ABB Robotics aims to establish industrial robotics as an easy-to-use, cost-effective and scalable alternative.

ABB cobot helps address the skills shortage

Surface finishing is a critical manufacturing step in almost every industry, ABB notes. At the same time, more complex production requirements and a shortage of skilled labour are putting pressure on companies. According to estimates by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, around 1.9 million manufacturing jobs could remain unfilled by 2033.

ABB Robotics says its collaborative finishing cell bridges the gap between customised automation and standard entry-level systems. The turnkey system uses a collaborative Gofa robot to deliver high-quality, precise surface finishing without requiring extensive robotics expertise, according to ABB.

Flexible and retrofittable robot grinding and polishing cell

The cell is supplied as a ready-to-use plug-and-play system, including the cobot and all safety components, ABB says. It is fully CE-certified and requires no additional technical modifications before production can begin.

The cobot cell is also designed to be adaptable. New tools and accessories can be retrofitted easily, which is particularly useful when many product variants have to be produced. By automating repetitive grinding and polishing tasks, the cell can increase part throughput. It is also intended to reduce scrap, rework time and associated costs.

The integrated dust extraction system protects people and the environment while also improving the quality of finished products, ABB adds. Skilled workers are also relieved of repetitive tasks and can focus on higher-value activities.

Software significantly reduces programming time

The new ABB Robotics finishing cell combines industrial quality standards and efficiency with ease of use. This is supported by ABB Robotics’ intuitive software, which has been developed to control the entire finishing process.

The tablet-like user interface is designed to be easy to understand, even for users without robotics experience, and does not require individual programming. Functions such as 3D path recording, the setup of predefined 2D paths and intuitive path editing are integrated as programming blocks in the Wizard Easy Programming software. According to ABB, these functions can reduce programming time by up to 90 percent compared with conventional methods.

The OmniVance Collaborative Surface Finishing Cell demonstrates how collaborative robots can enable application-specific finishing systems that improve competitiveness, including for SMEs and users with limited robotics expertise.

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