The Challenge of Robot System Products
RSP specializes in developing, producing and installing the necessary robot accessories to maximize productivity.Our strength lies in the specialized knowledge gained from almost 20 years of working with industrial robotics“, explains Henrik Hofström, Marketing Manager at RSP. “This specialized knowledge enables us to create robust, versatile industrial robot accessories that help our customers improve robot flexibility and increase productivity.“
Anybus helped integrate an industrial network interface into the tool changer, enabling communication with any factory network and allowing RSP to continue focusing on creating industry-leading robot accessories.
The network requirements of RSP
Robots move freely within the factory, so robot accessories must be as compact and cable-free as possible. In order to maintain the compact form of the tool changer, RSP preferred to integrate the network technology into the tool changer. RSP also needed a data communication interface that would enable easy and reliable connectivity to any factory system, regardless of the network protocol. However, developing the required network technology is not easy. “We are experts in robotics, not in industrial networks,” explains Mats Thunell, senior engineer at RSP. “We want to stay focused on robotics, so we didn't want to invest time and money to develop an internal networking solution, as that is outside our area of expertise.”
Anybus CompactCom
To maintain the compact size of the tool changer and avoid additional cables, RSP opted for the Anybus CompactCom B40. The Anybus CompactCom B40 is mounted on the printed circuit board (PCB) of the tool changer.
Any network
There is a CompactCom for every major fieldbus or industrial Ethernet, and it is easy to swap one CompactCom for another CompactCom, so RSP can connect to any factory system, regardless of network protocol. As Henrik points out, this opens up the possibility of expanding into new markets. “We started with PROFINET, but we can enter new markets because there is a CompactCom for all major networks.”
Easy and reliable
Anybus CompactCom is ready-to-use and easy to install, reducing the time to market for new products. The award-winning Anybus NP40 industrial network processor ensures that CompactCom meets demanding performance, reliability and security requirements.
“Without the Anybus CompactCom we would not have been able to develop the Moduflex series so easily”, Henrik concludes. “The Anybus CompactCom is a great product. It provides reliable industrial network communication and is easy to use.”
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