Universal Robots Certifies ATI’s New Small and Mighty Automated Tool Changer QC-11

Big things come in small packages, and ATI Industrial Automation’s QC-11
Automatic Tool Changer is no exception. The QC-11 is a vital
component of many robotic applications and is now certified to work
seamlessly with collaborative robots from Universal
Robots, joining more than 150 products in the UR+
portfolio featuring plug-and-play solutions for UR cobots that help
users get up and running quickly.

The QC-11 enables automatic exchange of robotic end-effectors without
any manual intervention. With an ATI Automatic Tool Changer, a robot can
utilize multiple end-effectors in a single process. Preceding the QC-11
in the UR+ program are ATI’s Axia80
Force/Torque Sensor and MC-10
Manual Tool Changer. ATI CEO Robert Little believes strongly in the
power of partnerships: “Thanks to the exceptional UR+ certification
program, ATI products can reach new users in the collaborative market,”
he says. “It is a great opportunity for us as a business, but the real
winners are our customers. Through Universal Robots’ stringent product
qualification process, ATI products rise to a new standard of
excellence. The collaboration between these two companies is genuinely
more than the sum of its parts.”

The QC-11 is the first automated tool changer developed in the Americas
to obtain UR+ certification and will be featured May 9 at ATI Industrial
Automation’s Automation
Expo held at the company’s recently expanded and renovated
headquarters in Apex, North Carolina. The Expo is a unique opportunity
for attendees to see this tool changer in action, witnessing its
extremely high strength-to-weight ratio. When coupled, the Master and
Tool weigh less than 0.25 kg (0.55 lbs), with a combined stack height of
52.4 mm (2.06 in). The small footprint of the robust QC-11 helps to
optimize the robot payload and work envelope while supporting the
maximum UR payload of 10 kg (22 lbs).

ATI’s patented, pneumatically-actuated, fail-safe, locking mechanism
provides strong, repeatable coupling under the rigors of industrial use.
It also ensures that the tooling remains securely attached to the
robot—even during a loss of air pressure. The QC-11 features six
integrated M5 pneumatic pass-through ports. It allows for an optional,
accessory mounted, M8 connector for up to eight pass-thru electrical pin
connections. Users can incorporate a compatible pin-and-bushing tool
stand for storage of the additional end-of-arm tools as well.

The UR+ program debuted in 2016 and has since grown rapidly to include
155 products from 400 companies active in the UR+ developer program.
“Universal Robots is thrilled to welcome this continued expansion of UR+
certified products from ATI with the QC-11,” says Stuart Shepherd,
Regional Sales Director for Universal Robots’ Americas division. “ATI’s
commitment to product quality and customer experience is in perfect
alignment with the vision of the UR+ program. We look forward to
collaborating on future projects.”

About Universal Robots
Universal Robots was founded in 2005
to make robot technology accessible to all by developing small,
user-friendly, reasonably priced, flexible, industrial robots that are
safe to work with. Since the first collaborative robot (cobot) was
launched in 2008, the company has experienced considerable growth with
the user-friendly cobot now sold worldwide. The company, which is a part
of Teradyne Inc., is headquartered in Odense, Denmark, and has
subsidiaries and regional offices in the United States, Germany, France,
Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, Poland, Turkey, China, India, Singapore,
Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Mexico. In 2018, Universal Robots had a
revenue of USD 234 million. For more information, please visit www.universal-robots.com
or read our blog at blog.universal-robots.com.

About ATI Industrial Automation:
ATI is the world-leading,
engineering-based developer of robotic accessories and robot arm
tooling, including Automatic Tool Changers, Multi-Axis Force/Torque
Sensing Systems, Utility Couplers, Robotic Deburring Tools, Robotic
Collision Sensors, Manual Tool Changers, and Compliance Devices. The
company’s robot end-effector products are found in thousands of
successful applications around the world. Since 1989, ATI’s team of
mechanical, electrical, and software engineers has been developing
cost-effective, state-of-the-art end-effector products and solutions
that improve robotic productivity.
www.ati-ia.com

Photos and Product Information:
Images of QC-11 available
here: urrobots.com/QC11
Product
information available here: urrobots.com/QC11Product

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