As our industry evolves, precision automation has become even more essential for achieving the efficiency, repeatability, and quality needed to stay competitive. ABB’s GoFa™ collaborative robots and RoboTape, a specialized automated adhesive application system, combine to create a powerful, integrated solution for manufacturers prioritizing flexibility and accuracy. This advanced pairing allows production lines to achieve consistent quality and increased throughput, even in demanding applications.
GoFa™ Cobots: A Technical Overview
ABB’s GoFa™ cobots are designed to seamlessly collaborate with human operators while maintaining high standards of safety and productivity. GoFa™ cobots are engineered for versatility across applications in electronics, automotive, and consumer goods industries. A notable feature is its advanced sensor technology, which detects and responds to even minor force interactions. This ensures safe human-robot collaboration without the need for extensive guarding, a key advantage in space-constrained production areas.
GoFa™’s intuitive, graphical programming interface lowers the barrier to entry, making it accessible for operators of varying technical expertise. The cobot’s integrated torque sensors in each joint enhance precision in tasks requiring consistent force and accuracy, such as assembling delicate components or performing quality inspections.
How RoboTape Compliments the Capabilities of GoFa™ Cobots
RoboTape brings added functionality to the GoFa™ cobots by enabling highly accurate adhesive tape application. Optimized for adhesive tapes of all kinds, including 3M™ VHB™ tapes, RoboTape ensures that adhesive patterns are applied consistently, meeting stringent quality standards. The system’s proprietary remote feeding mechanism enables uninterrupted adhesive application, reducing the frequency of manual reloading and minimizing downtime. This remote adhesive feed enhances the cobot’s capacity to handle extended production runs, an advantage for high-volume manufacturing environments.
With RoboTape, GoFa™ cobots can deliver precisely controlled adhesive paths on complex surfaces, reducing adhesive waste and ensuring consistency. This is particularly valuable in assembly lines for electronics and automotive components, where uniform adhesive application is critical for both performance and durability. The precision offered by RoboTape minimizes the likelihood of adhesive misalignment or uneven application, directly enhancing product quality and reducing the need for rework.
Key Benefits
- Enhanced Precision and Consistency: Equipped with torque sensors, GoFa™ cobots can apply force accurately and adjust to varying surface profiles, complementing RoboTape’s high-precision adhesive dispensing. This synergy ensures minimal variation in adhesive application, resulting in consistent product quality across production batches.
- Optimized Production Line Efficiency: RoboTape’s remote adhesive feed allows for continuous operation without frequent stops, significantly reducing downtime. The automation of repetitive adhesive application processes also frees up operators to focus on complex, high-value tasks, optimizing resource allocation on the production floor.
- Adaptability to High-Mix, Low-Volume Production: The flexibility of GoFa™’s programming interface allows manufacturers to quickly reconfigure the cobot for different tasks, making it well-suited for high-mix, low-volume production environments. Combined with RoboTape, GoFa™ cobots can efficiently handle diverse adhesive patterns, enabling quick transitions between product lines without extensive retooling or programming.
- Enhanced Safety and Compliance: GoFa™ cobots are engineered with collaborative safety in mind, meeting industry standards for safe human-robot interaction (ISO/TS 15066). With sensors that detect physical contact, the cobots respond instantly to prevent injury, making them ideal for close-proximity work environments. When paired with RoboTape, GoFa™ can perform adhesive tasks that might otherwise expose workers to repetitive strain, enhancing both safety and ergonomics on the production line.
The Future of Collaborative Automation
The combination of ABB’s GoFa™ cobots and RoboTape reflects a growing trend in manufacturing toward flexible, integrated automation solutions that prioritize both precision and operator safety. For manufacturers aiming to streamline operations and scale production, this pairing offers a reliable, scalable solution that reduces cycle times and enhances product quality. The integration exemplifies the future of collaborative automation, where cobots like GoFa™, combined with specialized systems like RoboTape, drive operational efficiency and provide a competitive edge.