Automation and Robotics | igus® Engineer's Toolbox

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8 days ago
How to measure belt tension: three methods and when to use each

Incorrect belt tension wears belts and destroys bearings. Compare hand, force-deflection, and sonic belt tension meter methods — and when to check.

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13 days ago
Six-Axis Cable Failures, Solved | triflex® at IMTS 2026

Find us at IMTS: https://www.igus.com/company/imts Learn more about triflex® cable management: https://www.igus.com/robot-dress-pack Contact a triflex® expert: https://www.igus.com/service/contact?contact=b35c29b7-b80c-4b02-87a9-00cd87191d83 Cables on a six-axis robot don\'t fail the way cables fail anywhere else. Every wrist rotation twists them, every reach drags them across the arm, and the damage builds where nobody can see it until the cell stops mid-shift. triflex® robotic cable carriers are built for exactly that motion. They absorb torsion instead of fighting it, hold cables at a defined bend radius through the full range of the arm, and keep the dresspack from snagging on the robot or the workpiece. The result is cables that reach their rated service life instead of getting replaced every few months, and a cell that keeps running. See it moving in person at IMTS 2026, September 14–19 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Stop by the igus® booth in the North Building for live displays and to walk through your own robot application with our engineers. Not headed to Chicago? Reach out to a triflex® expert and get a routing recommendation for your specific robot and application, at no cost. #imts #imts2026 #robotics #cablemanagement #sixaxisrobot #triflex

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22 days ago
Set Up a Robot Palletizer Without Any Coding

Book a live demo: https://rbtx.com/en-US/rbtxpert Visit the RBTX Marketplace: https://rbtx.com/en-US Most palletizing projects stall on the same problem: automation means hiring a robot programmer. The RBTX Palletizer removes that step entirely — you don\'t program it, you configure it. This walkthrough covers the full setup process, from the operator panel to the configuration screens behind it. What you can configure without writing code: Multiple saved recipes for different products and runs Box definitions for any size you\'re handling Single pallet, dual pallet, or bypass conveyor operation Layer-by-layer stack patterns built exactly how you want them Guided pose teaching using jog and teach buttons on the end-of-arm tool Teaching positions stays simple because the system does the math for you. You set a home pose, a pick pose, and one place reference per side — one pallet means one reference, two pallets means two. From there, the system automatically calculates every position in the stack based on how you built your layers. Configuration also sits behind a password wall, so only authorized personnel can change how the system runs, while day-to-day operators keep a clean panel with recipe selection, enable/disable, auto/manual mode, manual gripper trigger, and live status indicators. Timestamps 0:00 Why you don\'t need to program this palletizer 0:17 The operator panel: recipes, modes, and status 0:37 Getting into the configuration menu 1:00 Building boxes, sides, and stack layers 1:24 Teaching poses with the jog and teach buttons 1:47 One place reference per side — the system does the rest 2:15 Settings and controls 2:24 Book a live demo with an RBTX expert #palletizing #palletizer #industrialautomation #automation #robotics #nocode #rbtx

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22 days ago
Palletizer Safety Demo: Light Curtain and Hard Guarding

Book a live demo: https://rbtx.com/en-US/rbtxpert Visit the RBTX Marketplace: https://rbtx.com/en-US Nobody wants to find out the hard way what a palletizing robot does when a person walks into its work envelope. Here\'s exactly what happens. This demonstration walks through the safety system on the RBTX palletizer, available in two configurations: hard guarding paired with a light curtain, or an array of area scanners covering the perimeter of the robot\'s working area. In this video we trigger the light curtain option. What you\'ll see: On startup, the robot returns to home position at a reduced safe speed before entering full-speed operation — no unexpected fast motion on power-up. When the light curtain is broken mid-cycle, the robot pauses immediately and the HMI displays "Safety stopped. Clear the area and press resume." Restarting is deliberately manual. The system will not resume on its own once the beam is clear, and the resume button only illuminates after the area is confirmed clear — so a person still inside the cell can\'t be surprised by a robot that decides it\'s safe to move again. Press resume and the robot picks up exactly where it left off, so a safety stop doesn\'t cost you the cycle. Safety requirements vary by application, layout, and local regulation. Book a free appointment with an RBTX expert to work out the right palletizing configuration — and the right guarding approach — for your facility. 0:00 Two Safety Options: Guarding or Area Scanners 0:21 Startup: Safe-Speed Return to Home 0:35 Triggering the Light Curtain 0:45 "Safety Stopped" — Why It Won\'t Auto-Restart 0:55 Resuming Exactly Where It Left Off 1:10 Full Cycle Demonstration 2:22 Book a Free Palletizing Consultation #palletizer #palletizing #robotsafety #industrialrobots #lightcurtain #machinesafety #automation #rbtx

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22 days ago
One Palletizer, Endless Configurations: See It in Motion

Book a live demo: https://rbtx.com/en-US/rbtxpert Visit the RBTX Marketplace: https://rbtx.com/en-US Manual palletizing burns through labor hours, invites back injuries, and stalls the line every time someone calls out. Automating it usually means a custom integration project — unless the cell is built to be configured. The RBTX Palletizer is assembled from options you pick, not a fixed package: Payload — Choose a 20 kg or 30 kg payload robot depending on your case weight and throughput. End of arm tooling — Small, medium, and large gripper options cover most case and bag formats, with a custom configuration available when your product doesn\'t fit a standard tool. Slip sheets — Add slip sheet handling to the configuration when your stack needs it for stability or product protection. Installation — Stand the cell up yourself using RBTX Learn, or bring our team on site for full integration. Pick the level of support that matches your in-house capability. Safety — Hard guarding or soft guarding, selected to fit your floor space and risk assessment. Watch the full demo run to see the configured cell cycle through a complete palletizing sequence. 0:00 Payload Options: 20 kg or 30 kg 0:13 End of Arm Tooling & Slip Sheets 0:27 Installation & Safety Choices 0:48 Full Palletizing Demo #palletizer #palletizing #robotics #cobot #industrialautomation #rbtx

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26 days ago
Controlling a gantry robot with one smart controller

Gantry motor control doesn't need to be complicated. View this infographic to see how it can be done with just one motor controller.

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about 1 month ago
Robots You Can Buy Online, Support You Can Call | RBTX

Automation projects stall for the same reasons: too many vendors to vet, quotes that take weeks, and no clear answer on what you actually need. RBTX was built to remove all three.

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about 1 month ago
Material Handling AGVs X Conveyors by igus®

Automation gets the attention. Motion makes it possible. Learn how igus® motion plastics® can cut weight and eliminate maintenance across your AGV fleet.

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about 1 month ago
Motion in Automation with igus®

Learn more about igus solutions for automation: https://www.igus.com/automation Contact an igus® product expert: https://www.igus.com/service/contact?contact=39b47d18-b8bc-45ba-be2f-8c34097aef52 Every automated system starts with the same problem: something has to move — reliably, thousands of times, without stopping the line for maintenance. That’s the part of automation nobody thinks about until it fails. igus® exists to solve it. We’re an […]

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about 2 months ago
A manufacturer’s guide to cobot welding

Cobot welding helps manufacturers boost output up to 400%, cut rework, and close the skilled welder gap — no robotics background required. Learn more in this white paper.

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about 2 months ago
Is your facility ready for automated material handling? Here’s how to tell

Not sure if your material handling workflow is a good automation candidate? This guide covers which tasks are ready, which robot fits, and where AI and humanoids fit in today.

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2 months ago
How one motor controller can simplify your entire automation system

Simplify your automation system with one motor controller for stepper, DC, and brushless DC motors. Cut engineering time, inventory, and commissioning.

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2 months ago
Motion systems for industrial automation

Discover how maintenance-free drylin® linear systems, motors, and controllers reduce downtime, noise, and maintenance costs in industrial automation.

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5 months ago
How modular, grease-free components are turning humanoid robotics into a scalable industry

Inside the $13B humanoid robotics market: the technologies, applications, and modular components turning a once-futuristic vision into industrial reality.

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6 months ago
The future of flexible packaging

Explore the future of flexible packaging with this guide to low-cost, modular automation. Learn to maximize efficiency and overcome labor shortages using rapidly deployable, pre-tested palletizing systems and expert-led upskilling programs.

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6 months ago
RBTX palletizing configuration guide

Follow this step-by-step guide to quickly and easily design your own custom automated palletizing solution!

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9 months ago
Robotics Catalog 2025

Browse the 2025 igus Robotics Catalog and discover the wide-ranging product selection igus offers for robotic applications.

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9 months ago
Engineering modern vending machines with gantry robots

Modern vending machine design needs to adapt to meet constantly increasing demands. Read this white paper to see how igus is rising to the challenge.

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11 months ago
How to better protect your e-chain with smart plastics

Browse this infographic to discover the many options of IoT-enabled smart plastics products for e-chain cable carriers, and learn how you can add protection to your chain.

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about 1 year ago
Navigate your path to Automation with RBTX!

Automation specialists from RBTX are more than just experts in automation — they’re the key to ensuring you find exactly the right automated system for your application. Don’t overthink or overspend on automation; get in touch with an RBTX automation specialist today to get started. Book a free consultation: https://calendly.com/rbtxpert-usa/meeting Visit the RBTX marketplace: https://rbtx.com/en-US

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about 1 year ago
Digitally networked energy chains enhance STS cranes in the Port of Rotterdam

As requirements for STS cranes continue to grow, more robust cable management solutions have become a necessity. Read this white paper to learn about one such solution.

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