KUKA Robotics Unveils KUKA.CAMROB at IMTS 2008

Robotic CNC machining system reduces investment costs by 50 percent

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich., Sept. 8, 2008 - KUKA Robotics Corporation is showcasing its robotic machining solution for the North American manufacturing market at the upcoming International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) 2008, Sept. 8-13 at McCormick Place in Chicago, booth B-6000.

The KUKA KR 100 HA (High Accuracy robot series), paired with the KUKA.CAMROB Software, is designed for high precision applications including milling, trimming, routering, de-burring, dispensing, striping, gauging and laser processing.

KUKA.CAMROB Software automatically generates robot programs from CNC data for a variety of applications including pattern making, stoneworking, woodworking, metalworking and plastics. It also features milling application modules which are used to integrate milling tools. KUKA industrial robots combine maximum machining flexibility with lower investment costs.

With the KUKA.CAMROB software and the milling application modules, KUKA is offering the world's first complete system for automatic CNC machining with a robot. The milling application modules are used to integrate milling tools and additional components into a complete robotic system as standard products. Combining this new software with a KUKA robot allows for quick and easy operation of a robot as a machine tool.

"The KUKA.CAMROB software opens up a whole new range of potential applications with robots for a wide variety of manufacturing processes," said Stu Shepherd, president KUKA Robotics Corporation.

The system offers maximum workspace, so even large work-pieces can be machined. It also offers great functionality and flexibility since KUKA robots can be used to mill, grind, glue, cut, saw and handle and can, at any time, be quickly adapted to changing production processes. Additional options are available since the standard KUKA robot carries out machining with a 6- axis configuration. Turntables and linear units enable the integration of additional axes into the machining process. The 6-axis system is also more cost-effective, reducing investment costs by up to 50 percent.

Other advantages of this system include higher precision, quality and speed. Application-optimized accuracy ensures permanent precision and top quality. Compared with machine-assisted or manual machining, KUKA.CAMROB achieves significantly higher process speeds.

KUKA.CAMROB is extremely flexible and adaptable, which is reflected in the breadth of the range of applications in which the custom-configurable system offers outstanding performance.