The new generation of viper robots from ENGEL increases the flexibility of linear robots and reduces investment costs

ENGEL viper Linear Robots for Injection Moulding Machines

Flexibility has been an integral part of the viper range concept for many years. It covers injection moulding machines with clamping forces from 30 to 5 500 tonnes, can be equipped with various gripper solutions and is controlled entirely through the machine's CC300 control system. The new generation goes one step further for the medium sizes. Until now, the load-bearing components of the linear robot were firmly tied to a specific size. Anyone needing greater reach for a particular application had to opt for the next larger class, even if the higher maximum part weight of that class was not required at all. In the new modular system, these classes can be combined across classes 20, 40 and 60.

A specific example: Applications with part weights of up to approximately 20 kilograms, which until now could only be handled with a viper 40 robot (maximum part weight 40 kilograms) because of the reach required, will also be possible with a viper 20 robot in future. This is made possible by longer travel paths of up to two metres and lighter cast aluminium components at the central connection points. For processors, this means less moving mass in the robot, greater freedom in planning the installation and lower investment costs. 

Lighter Wrist Axes and Less Cabling for Easier Operation

The second main topic is the drive technology for the wrist axes, namely the moving joints directly on the gripper. ENGEL has also developed two new combined wrist axes, each of which covers the application range of two previous sizes with a single model. Depending on the version, the weight of the new combined axes has been halved compared with the previous sizes. This weight saving provides additional capacity for the weight of the parts and gripper.

The 48-volt power supply eliminates the need for three shielded power cables, each 15 metres long, between the control cabinet and the robot. Fewer cables mean less installation and maintenance effort and reduced susceptibility to faults during operation. For the larger viper 90 and 120 sizes, ENGEL is deliberately retaining the existing high-voltage concept, as a 48-volt solution would not be economically worthwhile for users here.

Robots with Lower Energy Consumption

On the control side, iQ vibration control active vibration damping now works throughout the entire working envelope, rather than only during long movements. This reduces the settling time at the end of a movement by approximately 10 percent. In addition, enhanced motion planning enables more demanding removal of moulded parts from the mould. The time required for a single removal is thus reduced by approximately 18 percent. Annual energy consumption for the sizes mentioned is reduced by approximately 38 percent. The new generation also meets the requirements of the forthcoming update to the international robot safety standard ISO 10218:2025, which will become mandatory for all manufacturers from March 2027. ENGEL is implementing it with the new viper range a month earlier. For users, this means legal certainty without any additional effort on their part and easier integration into existing safety concepts.