Kuka Robots

Kuka Robotics is a German based company that has gained a fantastic reputation for innovation and product development. They were the first major robot company to use a Microsoft windows based programming interface. They were also the first company to make extensive use of Aluminium in robot arm design making Kuka manipulators among the lightest and fastest available. They also introduced a gas charged balance cylinder on axis 2 before the other main manufacturers, a design that has now been widely adopted by other manufacturers as it gives excellent work-envelope characteristics.

The Kuka company was founded in 1898 and stands for Keller und Knappish, Augsberg. Keller and Knappish being the founders and Augsberg their home town. They started off in Acetylene lighting equipment which moved into Oxy-Acetylene welding and then into Electric spot welding. By the late 1950’s Kuka were manufacturing dedicated spot welding machines for the likes of Volkwagen. In 1971 Kuka made their first robotic installation in a Daimler Benz factory utilising American Unimation robots. By 1973 they developed their own industrial robot the “Famulus” (meaning close attendant or apprentice to a scholar or magician). This was styled similarly to the Unimation robots of the day but was in fact a substantial move forward as it was both a full six axis robot and was entirely electromechanically driven. (Unimation used hydraulics).

By 1976 Kuka was producing IR6/60 robots that had an offset wrist and used a Siemens controller. The 1980’s saw substantial expansion of the Kuka brand and in 1989 Kuka released and entirely new range of industrial robots which used brushless ac motors which ranged from 8kg to 240kg capacity. These robots had the motors at the back of the axis 3 arm allowing a narrow wrist design. In 1996 the KRC1 controller was released. This was the first mainstream Microsoft windows based industrial robot controller available. The teach pendant uses a very large colour touch-screen with excellent functionality and is fitted with a multi axis “mouse” which can be used to control robot movement.

The KRC1 and the subsequent KRC2 controller have gradually been improved and upgraded since their release as hardware and software technology improved. This has lead to the KRC series of controller to be highly adaptable and in 1999 Kuka started using remote diagnosis via the internet. Kuka remain at the forefront of robot development and in 2002 they released their Robocoaster amusement ride. This is essentially a large capacity 6 axis robot with 2 seats mounted on the end of the arm. How they managed to get it passed heath and safety is anyone’s guess but there are now several Robocoaster rides in the Legoland amusement park in Denmark.

At Global Robots we try and maintain availability for popular Kuka robots. Using partners in Germany (where the majority of Kuka robots are installed) and elsewhere we can usually supply the more popular varieties of Kuka robot such as the KR6, KRC150 and the IR360. Kuka have certainly enjoyed an increase in sales in recent years and we look forward to see them in increasing numbers on the used market. We also work with several Kuka integrators, engineers and programmers in the UK and around the world.