German Rodriguez Launches Collaborative Robot 7th Axis with Maximum Working Radius of 10 Meters

en.Wedoany.com Reported - German drive system supplier Rodriguez GmbH has launched the Thomson Movotrak Collaborative Robot Transfer Unit (CTU), positioning it as a "movable 7th axis" for collaborative robots. The system enables a single collaborative robot to move along a linear track between multiple workstations, with an operating range of up to 10 meters.

The core feature of the Movotrak CTU is integrated collision detection. According to Rodriguez, this is the only 7th axis product on the market equipped with collision detection, capable of detecting collisions and automatically stopping during carriage movement. Rodriguez emphasizes that this feature "complements the safety architecture but does not replace the safety functions required by standards".

The system is designed based on two linear units, providing sufficient torque load capacity and rigidity even when the collaborative robot arm is fully extended. Rodriguez supplies the system as a complete package, including linear units, motors, gearboxes, and control cabinets, with configurations customizable to specific applications. The system also features a Freedrive function, allowing operators to manually guide the robot along the axis and directly save position information, thereby simplifying the teaching process.

The transfer unit supports horizontal, wall-mounted, or ceiling-mounted installation, and its modular mounting system makes it compatible with most mainstream collaborative robots on the market. Potential applications include multi-machine tending, picking, palletizing and packaging, inspection and quality assurance of large components, as well as processes requiring coverage of large workpiece areas such as welding, soldering, grinding, and dispensing.