Schneider's cobot can lift 3kg and position to 20μm

Lexium is a cobot from Schneider Electric, intended to work alongside humans without a cage or other exclusion.

Cobots – collaborative robots – need to be inherently safe around people, and as such need to be lightweight, move at moderate speed, not be too strong and have no sharp edges.

“Traditional industrial robotic systems must be designed into processes from day one,” said Schneider strategy leader Mike Teller. “Although they can be very effective at accurately and consistently performing operations which are repetitive and arduous for workers, their speed and power make them unsuitable to work alongside people. Lexium, on the other hand, is intentionally designed to work with people.”

Called LXMRL03S0000 – there are larger models in the range – this smallest one has six degrees of freedom, operates in a 626mm radius, weighs 12kg, can carry up to 3kg, and position within ±20μm. Protection is to IP54.

Maximum joint rotation speed is ~200°/s, action speed is ~1.5m/s, and torque feedback is used to protect nearby humans from collisions, said Schneider.

Training is via an app, and electrically it has two logic inputs, two logic outputs and one analogue output. Consumption is 150W at 24V.

Mounting can be any way up: to table, wall or ceiling – although it needs to be in reach of its controller cabinet. Options include a force sensor base, a force sensor flange and 2d camera.

Applications are foreseen gluing, machine setting, palletising, picking and placing, and welding.

Find Lexium on this web page