Cobots sort, pick and move items with the help of cameras and mechanical gripping systems.
According to Igus, the new finger gripper is made of lubrication-free plastics, making it cost-effective and easy to integrate.
Igus Rebel is said to be a lightweight robot that makes it possible to enter robotics with relatively low investment, making it particularly suitable for assembly tasks, quality inspections and in-service applications. For the robot to work efficiently, grippers and vacuum cups are necessary, and igus now offers a wide selection of end-effectors from various suppliers via the marketplace RBTX.com.
Adam Sanjurgo, low-cost automation manager at Igus UK, said: "Since the Rebel is light and affordable, with a weight of around eight kilograms and starting from £4200 it is widely used in applications that humans would normally do. For this reason, we received several customer enquiries for a robotic hand that can be easily connected to the Rebel via plug-and-play."
Rebel is available for £2,668. The humanoid hand is compatible with all Rebel models. It is controlled via DIO at the Tool Centre Point, which allows for integration and flexibility in various applications. The special feature of the finger gripper is that it can imitate human hand movements.
"With the new low-cost hand, the Rebel can perform a wide range of simple humanoid tasks and applications, especially in research and development at universities, but also tasks in commercial kitchens or in the entertainment industry are possible," added Sanjurgo.
All components, including flange mount, cables and the control system, are delivered from Igus. The low price is partly due to the lubrication-free plastics. The plain bearings in the joints are made of Iglidur polymers, which are claimed to enable precise movements of the individual fingers while being clean.
The humanoid hand can be controlled by various interfaces, including USB, TTL (5 V) serial and internal scripting. In addition to the finger gripper, Igus offers other products for these cobots, also called the ‘Rebel Environment’. These include fireproof hoods, seventh axis, gripper sets, adapter plates, energy supply systems, a dedicated workstation and connection cables.