AFRICAN FUSION—MARCH2014
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New bogie fabrication facility
Three further cellswith6,0kgpay-
load robots (HP20D-6s)and1915mm
reaches accommodate smaller compo-
nentry.ThesearecoupledwithYaskawa
Motoman’s2-axis tilt-rotatepositioners
from itsMT1 range.
In addition, DCDRolling Stock has
invested in weld seam tracking vision
systems to enhance end quality and
expand fit-up tolerance.AServoRobot,
Power Trac seam tracking laser vision
DCDRolling Stock has invested in seam tracking laser vision camera systems to
enhance end quality and expand fit-up tolerance.
facility
Yaskawa’s newMotomanMA1440welding robot
camera system has been chosen. The
welding itself is done using SKS LSQ5
420A water-cooled welding power
sources.AndaThielmannwelding torch
cleaning station, complete with wire
cutter, nozzle reamer and anti-spatter
spray unit, which keeps the systems
calibrated and cleans the torches be-
tween jobs.
Mulaudzi says that “69 years ago,
on9November,1944, the firstwagons
were manufactured in South Africa by
a company called Dorman LongAfrica
Limited, thepredecessor toDCDRolling
Stock.We introduced thismanufactur-
ing capability into South Africa. Since
then some130000wagonsandabout
250 000 bogies have been produced,
along with 7 000 bogies for locomo-
tives; 222 complete industrial locos
for the mining industry; and between
1975 and the late 1980s, 800 GE
diesel locomotives.
“We are committed to rebuilding
that capability and doing it with better
technology and better skilled people.
We have faith in the vision for indus-
trialising the local economy and in the
localisation drive in all sectors.
For economic growth rail has to
be central and if we work together,
governmentwithpartners in theprivate
sector, we can build ‘SA Inc’ andmake
a difference across our continent. That
is what this investment is about,” he
concludes.
S
leek, strong and fast, the new
6-axisMA1440arcwelding robot
features a 6,0 kg payload, up from
3,0 kg on the MA1400 model. Ad-
ditionally, compared to theMA1400,
the new MA1440 features a 23%
larger wrist hole for utilities and is
up to15% faster. TheMA1440 robot
is introduced with the new DX200
robot controller,which ismoreenergy
efficient and designed for improved
maintainability.
The MA1440 features a new
contoured arm structure that re-
duces interference by enlarging the
close-rangemotionareaof the robot,
making it optimal for welding large
workpieces and reaching across jigs.
The upper arm shape also provides
an improved mounting area that
allows more room for the feeder.
Available in floor-, wall- or ceiling-
mounted configurations and ideal for
high-density layouts, the space-saving
MA1440 robot increases productivity
due to itsuseof Sigma-5motor control
technology.
The MA1440 robot has a
1 440 mm (56,7-inch) horizontal
reach, 2511mm (98,9-inch) vertical
reach and ±0,08 mm repeatability.
Its integrated through-the-arm torch
cabling eliminates cable interference,
simplifies programming and reduces
cable wear. The enlarged 50 mm
through-hole can allow signal cables
for sensors, higher current cables and
water-cooling lines. Thehigher payload
allowsmotorised torches and cameras
tobemountedon thewrist forwelding
applications. Additionally, a material
handling version of the robot with a
12 kg payload is available (MH12).
The DX200 has been designed
to improve process capability, reduce
energy usage, and improve maintain-
ability and safety. An
enhanced functional
safety unit (FSU)
provides control reli-
able zone and tool
position monitoring,
stand still monitor-
ing and speed limit-
ing. This can reduce
costs for safeguarding
hardware and provides
new capabilities such as
collaborative tasks.
The new robot is
now available from
Yaskawa Southern
Africa
TheMA1440 robot has a 1 440mm
(56,7-inch) horizontal reach, 2 511
mm (98,9-inch) vertical reach and
±0,08mm repeatability.
