I own a small metalworking shop, and I'm looking to automate some of our processes with a robotic welder.
I have found a good deal on a lightly used ABB IRB 4600 robot, but it does not come with the controller. I’m considering purchasing the arm and then buying a separate used IRC5 Controller.
I’m fairly new to robotics, so I have a few high-level questions that would be great to get input on:
- Is there anything I should watch for when buying a used ABB controller and arm separately?
- Can I match any full-sized IRC5 controller with the IRB 4600, or does the IRC5 need to be of a specific model year?
- Would I need to purchase anything besides the arm, controller, and teach pendant?
- Would ABB need to flash the controller to match the IRB 4600, or is it a fairly plug-and-play process?
Thank you!