Bosch Rexroth, has made significant strides in industrial automation through the integration of their Smart Flex Effector with the Anybus Communicator. This collaboration aims to automate tasks traditionally deemed impossible, enhancing efficiency and productivity in various industrial applications.
The Smart Flex Effector, developed at Bosch Rexroth’s Customer and Innovation Center in Ulm, Germany, is a revolutionary compensation module that provides compliance in six degrees of freedom. This advanced feature allows robots to perform complex, precise tasks, traditionally managed by human workers. David Lehmann, System Architect at Bosch Rexroth, emphasizes the module’s precision enabled by an integrated sensor system, which measures tool deflection with high accuracy.
Despite its advanced capabilities, the Smart Flex Effector faced connectivity challenges with existing robot controllers. Customers reported difficulties in connecting the module to their systems, citing the time and resources required. To address this, Bosch Rexroth partnered with HMS Networks to utilize the Anybus Communicator Common Ethernet. This protocol converter seamlessly connects serial devices to major Ethernet protocols like EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, and PROFINET.
The Anybus Communicator’s user-friendly interface and web-based configuration simplify the installation process, eliminating the need for third-party software and reducing security risks. This ease of use and flexibility has led Bosch Rexroth to incorporate the Anybus Communicator into their complete solution offerings.
The integration of the Smart Flex Effector with the Anybus Communicator has significantly expanded Bosch Rexroth’s market reach, enabling compatibility with various robot controllers and industrial Ethernet protocols. Lehmann notes that this solution now covers almost the entire market, highlighting its comprehensive applicability.
