Does anyone know of a hydraulic robot?

[Servo]

Does anyone know of a hydraulic robot?

Brand does not matter to me. I do no that some early robots were hydraulic, but most of them have been replaced with all electric models. I'm looking for a company that currently makes a hydraulic articulated robot. Something that can maintain a path, i.e. lines and arcs. I know of some so-called robots that are hydraulic, but they are just for course pick and place applications, and are incapable of maintaining a path.

Thank you in advance,
Servo

[Jim Tyrer]

Do you mean REALLY big or just non-electric?
Here's one that breaks stuff: http://www.mobile-robotics.com/tech/demolition.php

[Servo]

Jim,

I mean: I want to know if there is a company that makes a articulated hydraulic manipulator, i.e. 5, 6, or 7 axis robot, which derives its motion from hydraulics, rather than electric motors, with gear reducers. It must be a full robot, i.e. it must be able to interpolate straight lines and curves, in order to perform accurate geometrical pathwork.

I do appreciate your response, but the claw thingy would not qualify. It's one of the cases that I mentioned in my original post:
"I know of some so-called robots that are hydraulic, but they are just for course pick and place applications, and are incapable of maintaining a path".

Thank you,
Servo

[ABB robter]

I believe the Hyduralic robot was a Unimate.
I do not believe you will find a hyduralic robot made because they are very dangerous the speed it controlled by servo valves that are not reliable.
With an electric control a failure means the motor stops with the brakes but if a hyduralic valve sticks open the cylinder continuies to move and hyduralic power is strong enough to bend steel.
This is why there are none in automotive body shops.

[Servo]

ABB Robter

Yes, I too have heard that is why all electric robots are dominant. However, I am curious if there are any hydraulic robots still being produced? Surely there are applications where hydraulics would be preferable to electric, either for reasons of high force or in applications where electric motors cannot be used due to atmosphere, magnetic field, etc.

There are certainly other applications where servo-hydraulics have been employed in the presence of people. Many types of presses are servo-hydraulic and OSHA allows for people to reach in between cycles, etc.

The technology has evolved since the early days of robotics when things went haywire. Now even the electric robots even have built in safety monitoring devices which shut down the system if the arm move in an unexpected way. I think RIA2001 mandates it. This is because, although rare, electric robots have freaked out too.

I imagine someone makes a real hydraulic robot, I just need to find out who.

Thanks,
Servo

[tony gast]

I have seen Hydraulic and hydraulic assist robots.
The hydraulic robots scared me stupid after I walked down a hall and an arm crashed through the wall(a reinforced cement wall)......a belt driving he encoder broke.....robot went faster...to full reach......

Hydraulic assist used electric servos and hydraulic cylinders (basically replacing the counter balance springs) controlled with redundant pilot valves to control the main oil.
safer but.....

Both very high maintenance......and costly.....but high payloads...

There are now 1500kg payload electrics.....what is it that you need to do?

[Servo]

Tony,

Unfortunately, I cannot discuss the application, as this will not be a private sector project. All I can say is; I need to find a company that knows how to accurately control a hydraulic robot. Whether they have a suitable arm, is of little consequence to me right now. I just need to find a company that currently offers a hydraulic powered robot. Do you know of one?

Thank you,
Servo

[TygerDawg]

Nobody makes those things anymore, and for all the right reasons:  dangerous, unreliable, inaccurate, leaky, stupid. 

The last hydraulic robots that I saw & used were the Cincinnati Milacron T-3 and the IBM RS-1.  Both of them have been correctly cast into the trash dumpster of history.

[tony gast]

The research I done is as TygerDawg stated....no longer made.....the biggest i found is KUKA and Fanuc both with 1200kg beasts....I for some reason think that these can be re-rated up to 1500kg.....best I could find

[Servo]

Guys,

Wow! I appreciate all of your incites. I too figured that it might be impossible to find a company who still manufacture hydraulic robots. I just wasn't ready to swear by it.

There are certainly reasons why all-electric robots dominate the core user market. However, as luck would have it, there are still some companies that have not received the memo that hydraulic robots are a stupid idea. On the contrary, I had a conversation with an engineer of one such company, who assured me that their machines are safe and reliable.

I have attached a link to a U.S. manufacturer that makes a unit that has a capacity of 3000kg+. According to what I have learned here, this easily makes them the highest capacity robot on the market.

I did learn that their path accuracy is not on par with most electric robots, but at a 20ft reach I wouldn't expect it to be. Our company will likely test drive one of these beasts in short order, and I'll let you know what I think.

http://www.vulcangroup.com/video/Robotics%20-%20Part%20Handling%20Robots_04.html

Thank you,
Servo

[Robo Guru]

Servo,

I saw a servo robot used for lifting metal used in diesel trains.  It was a massive hydraulic robot... the company was called GRALLA, GRAMMA ? I did a post about this a year ago or so, search it up in the forums.

RoboGuru

[Servo]

RoboGuru,

I did a search for the your post, but could not find it. If you can find it, I would like to see it.

Thank you,
Servo

[Midwest Tech]

The company is Glama, http://www.glama.de/

[Robo Guru]

that's it!!!

[mymotoman]

holy sh.. I thought these kind of machines only exist in alien movies!