Mitsubishi Electric Unveils Long-Reach Factory Robot Arm

Mitsubishi Electric Automation Inc. has launched a new factory robot arm with the largest reach of any in its Low-Cost Robot Series of automated appendages.

According to the company, the MELFA RV-12CRL vertically articulated robot has a 4.9 feet grab span and the ability to heft a 26-pound object, making it well suited for machine tending, case packing and pick-and-place applications. Its release follows that of the RV-8CRL, which has a 2.9-feet grab span and is capable of lifting 17-pound objects.

Vernon Hills, Illinois-based Mitsubishi Electric Automation, the U.S. affiliate of Japan’s Mitsubishi Electric Corp., has already earned a solid reputation for its robots’ abilities to handle a variety of payloads and reaches at various price ranges. This newest robot can cover a large work envelope without the need of an additional vertical axis, the manufacturer said, adding that built-in features provide enhanced safety, streamlined implantation and an overall reduction in downtime.

Among the robot’s features are internal cables and air hoses for end-of-arm tooling, including 30 pins of signal cabling. The robot uses MELSERVO-J5 servo motors, which do not require encoder batteries, and CR800 controllers for safety-monitoring functionality. 

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The robot also has intelligent 2D and 3D vision sensors, as well as force sensors, which allow it to perform “extremely difficult” tasks that have previously been out of reach of automation. There is also an optional MELFA Smart Plus card that can be inserted into the CR 800 controller to provide integration functions for additional sensors and autonomous startup-adjustment functions.

“The launch of the RV-12CRL robot marks an exciting opportunity for our customers to experience the quality and performance known by our industrial robot lineup at the price of a collaborative robot,” said Curtis Sylliaasen, product manager (robot).