Painting cobots in practical test at Adler
Collaborative robots, called cobots, have recently also been used for painting: In the application technology competence center of the paint manufacturer Adler, the use of a cobot as a painting robot was tested - with promising results.
Most large window and door manufacturers rely on painting robots in the surface area. But classic robot technology is not the first choice for every application: the space requirement is too large, the programming effort too high, and the flexibility too low. This is where "painting cobots" could come into play in the future: The collaborative robots enable barrier-free interaction between man and machine, can be used flexibly and are uncomplicated to operate. Matthias Stötzel, Head of Application Technology for Windows and Wood Construction at Adler, explains: "A cobot can be programmed very easily for any motion sequence. Programming is nowhere near as time-consuming as with a conventional painting robot." Thanks to the robot arm's range of motion, even very complex geometries can be painted: "In our field test, we painted chairs and control cabinets, wheelbarrows and racks - the results were always convincing," says Stötzel. Thanks to its simple programming, the use of the Cobot is also particularly worthwhile for very small series, which can be painted with high quality and repeatability.
Another advantage is the small space requirement: "For a normal painting robot, special protective enclosures or a separate painting booth are required. The cobot, on the other hand, can be used in any environment; man and machine work together shoulder to shoulder, as it were," explains Stötzel. For the field test in the Adler application technology, a cobot was equipped with an Airmix gun and mounted on a transportable attachment. Over several months, the prototype was tested for a wide range of applications - and passed with flying colors: "We can answer the question of whether cobots are suitable for use in surface coating with a resounding yes," says Stötzel. The Adler team has thus gained valuable experience in the field of coating technology: "Cobots also offer an exciting alternative for smaller manufacturers to implement automation with low effort and high flexibility. I am pleased that we can now also support our customers in this area with our practical know-how."