Sep 17, 2014
A SCARA robot is primarily used for assembly and can be programmed to handle precise installation work repetitively. SCARA stands for Selective Compliant Assembly Robot Arm or Selective Compliant Articulated Robot Arm, which means the robot arm moves along the X-Y plane and uses an additional actuator to move along the Z-Axis.
Flux Integration LLC, a Biddeford, Maine USA based robotics and automation company, has developed The FLX.ARM.S16.Z8, the first low-cost precision SCARA robot arm.
Robotic arms for manufacturing or research often are priced between $10k to $40k, but Flux Integration wants to change this by developing a SCARA robot arm in the price range of most 3D printers on the market. The company had the FLX.ARM.S16 up for pre-order in May, and today they have launched the project on crowdfunding platform Kickstarter.
The FLX.ARM.S16.Z8 features a large configurable workspace: 16" [406.4 mm] in the X-Y plane and 8" [203.2 mm] of Z. It is precision machined from 6061-T6 billet aluminum and by restricting movement to the X-Y plane the robot arm is able to maintain rigidity in the Z-Axis without requiring the joints to overcome gravity.
Cast Aluminum Precision Ground Build Plates
FLX.ARM is a closed-loop motion control platform with integrated ultra-high resolution optical encoders for feedback. An important criterion is the repeatability of the robot arm. When you command FLX.ARM to a given position it will go repeatably to that position within 0.001" [0.025mm].
Control box
With modular toolheads, the FLX.ARM has the ability to pick and place, 3D print, and can be used for dispensing, light-duty milling, probing, and as a machine tool assistant.
The 3D printer toolhead integrates the all metal E3D hot end with bowden filament drive. And it has a 0.4 mm nozzle and prints objects in PLA, ABS, HIPS, Flexible PLA, Nylon and Polycarbonate.
The 3D printer toolhead is capable of printing at a 100 micron layer height. Also included are a thermocouple to increase the maximum operating temperature of the hot end, an integrated fan for maintaining the thermal characteristics of the hot end and an additional fan to provide active cooling of the 3D printed part.
The FLX.ARM.S16.Z8 software is based on Flux Integration's FLX.IDE, an Integrated Development Environment comprised of a stack of software modules, including motion control, and simulation modules, as well as kinematics, toolpath visualization, simple threaded flow programming, and G-Code import.
The motion control hardware interface for FLX.IDE is FLX.CTL, which was built as an extensible platform to enable distributed real-time low latency signal I/O. FLX.CTL enables FLX.ARM, CNC machines, and automation equipment to be interfaced with FLX.IDE.
Early backers on Kickstarter will be able to receive the FLX.ARM.S16.Z8 pre-production for $1,799, including FLX.IDE beta access. You need to add to your pledge amount for toolheads and build plates as well: a 3D printer toolhead costs $250 extra, and the 90 degree build plate with leveling mounts is priced at $125. Check out the introduction video below to see the arm in action.
Posted in 3D Printers
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