To meet the needs of manufacturers who demand a collaborative robot capable of moving heavy objects across longer spans with greater levels of efficiency, Universal Robots developed its UR20 robot. With key features that include an extended reach to 68.9 inches and a 55.12-pound payload capacity, the UR20 next-generation, high-performance cobot excels in applications that require substantial lifting capabilities, as well as a longer reach.
This blog will introduce the features of the UR20 and highlight the ways manufacturers are deploying this powerful cobot for use in heavy-duty, high-performance operations.
A Closer Look at the UR20 Robot
The UR20 robot has a lot to offer to manufacturers who are looking to automate heavy-duty, high-speed repetitive tasks with a collaborative robot.
Some of the key features of the UR20 include:
| High payload capacity | With a robust payload capacity of 55.12 pounds/20kg, the substantial lifting capability makes the UR20 a standout for applications that require repetitive lifting and transporting of heavy parts or objects. |
| Extended reach | The UR20 reach – an impressive 68.9 inch/1750 mm – allows the cobot to cover broad areas and reach deep into machines. |
| High performance | The UR20 robot has been redesigned to provide 30% more speed and torque, as well as advanced motion control capabilities, to provide high-performance and precise control for high-speed, heavy-duty applications. |
| Simple programming | Programming the UR20 is simple, thanks to user-friendly interfaces that allow programming via a touchscreen pendant, ensuring seamless integration, even for users with limited programming experience. |
| Safety features | The UR20 robot offers advanced force-sensing technology, allowing the cobot to detect obstacles and make course adjustments to minimize the risk of collisions and accidents. The UR20 also features power and force limiting (PFL) technology to reduce the chances and severity of injury if a collision should occur. These safety features make the model a reliable and safe choice for shared workspaces and human robot collaboration. |
| Versatility | Thanks to the six-degrees of freedom, extended reach and high payload capacity, the UR20 robot is well suited to diverse applications, including those that require moving or lifting heavy parts across greater distances. |
| Stable foundation | Universal Robots UR20 base dimensions/footprint of Ø 245 mm and weight of 141.1 pounds/64 kg provide a compact, yet strong and stable foundation for the cobot as it lifts and transports heavy parts across long distances. |
UR20e vs. UR20
While the UR20e and the UR20 are not actually distinct models, the UR20 robot is the first in a new series of next-generation, high-performance collaborative robots developed by Universal Robots. The “e” refers to Universal Robots’ E-Series, which the UR20 was engineered to complement. The features detailed above provide a +5 kg payload increase, a greater reach and more precise control in high-speed processes when compared to E-Series cobots, creating additional collaborative robot opportunities in the same compact Universal Robot size and footprint.
UR20’s Long Reach and High Payload Capacity Expand Cobot Applications
While UR20 reach and high payload capabilities are impressive characteristics that make it a great choice for automating high-performance applications, other features such as its high speeds, precise motion control, versatility, accessible programming and deployment options allow the UR20 to support a variety of more demanding tasks that require lifting heavy payloads over long spans with greater efficiencies.
7 Applications for the UR20 Robot
- Heavy-duty material handling: With the additional payload capacity and extended reach, the UR20 handles heavy-duty material handling like a pro – allowing the cobot to lift and transfer large, heavy items from one location to another, even at greater distances than are typical of a collaborative robot.
- Palletizing and depalletizing: The high-capacity payload makes the UR20 well-suited for palletizing and depalletizing heavy products. In addition to managing heavy loads, the high speed capability of the UR20 robot makes the process more efficient, contributing to faster throughput, minimizing bottlenecks and reducing the workload of manual laborers.
- Machine tending: The speed, efficiency and precision of the UR20 robot, along with the high-performance capabilities and ease of programming make the cobot ideal for automating machine tending applications, where seamless material loading and unloading and consistent production processes are needed to increase efficiency, reduce downtime and prevent safety hazards for human workers.
- Assembling large workpieces: The higher payload and long reach of the UR20 permit use of the cobot in assembling large, heavy and complex parts in automotive, aerospace and other industries that manufacture large-scale products and components.
- Inspection of large components: The ability to lift and maneuver large, heavy products allows the UR20 robot to be used in inspection and quality control testing for manufacturers of large-scale components or products.
- Heavy-duty pick and place: Because the UR20 reach and high-capacity payload allow it to pick up and move heavy pieces over longer distances, it is suitable for pick and place tasks for manufacturers who must transport large items over greater spans.
- Welding of large components: With its ability to handle substantial weight, the UR20 robot can be used to weld large components and structures in automotive and aerospace manufacturing, as well as in the construction industry.
With an extended reach of 68.9 inch/1750 mm and increased payload capacity of 55.12 pounds/20kg, the UR20 robot can cover a considerable operational area and accommodate heavy-duty lifting in a diverse range of applications, including material handling, large part assembly, palletizing and depalletizing, machine tending, inspection of large components and welding of large structures with ease. Other features, such as high speeds, simple programming and impressive safety features make the UR20 robot a versatile automation solution in collaborative workspaces. To learn more about how the Universal Robots UR20 can increase the efficiency of heavy-duty and high-performance manufacturing processes, please contact the automation pros at HTE today.
