Ascent Aerospace has added Exechon Enterprises’s parallel kinematic robots to its portfolio of manufacturing automation solutions.
Exechon’s Parallel Kinematic Machine (PKM) technology offers the stiffness of a machine tool with the dynamic 5-axis capability of an articulated-arm robot, for faster, more accurate assembly and higher overall equipment effectiveness.
According to Ascent, Exechon’s latest development, the XMini, is accurate to 30μ, a step-change improvement over existing aerospace robotic solutions which are limited in stiffness and speed. XMini’s rigid PKM technology maintains accuracy to 3G acceleration, for faster cycle times. Unlike traditional machine tool monuments, the light, carbon fibre XMini can be mounted in any orientation, even upside down, for full 5-axis capability. The modular XMini can be taken apart and reassembled inside spaces traditionally inaccessible to machines or people, such as an aircraft wing box.
Ascent has entered into a licensing agreement with Exechon Enterprises, a joint venture company comprising Abu Dhabi-based Injaz National, US global security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin, and Sweden-based Tecgrant. The agreement authorises Ascent to integrate Exechon’s parallel kinematic robots into its automated manufacturing cells.
The XMini will be on display in the Ascent Aerospace booth at the Farnborough International Airshow 2018.
Source: NetComposites