Okuma launches parts handling robots to complement its CNC line - The Robot Report

Oct 14, 2024

By The Robot Report Staff | August 8, 2024

On the left, Okuma’s new ORL-R rotary cell robot, and on the right, its ORL-D drawer cell robot. | Source: Okuma America Corp.

Okuma America Corp. last week announced the Okuma Robot Leader, or ORL, series of automation. It includes three proprietary products designed to load and unload workpieces from Okuma machines to increase productivity and operator efficiency, said the company.

“Our team is excited to bring the ORL series to market and showcase its capabilities at IMTS 2024,” stated Wade Anderson, vice president of engineering at Okuma America’s Factory Automation Division. “With its compact footprint and easy integration process, an ORL unit can quickly make an impact for machine shops of any size.”

The Charlotte, N.C.-based company is a division of Okuma Corp., a provider of computer numeric control (CNC) machine tools, controls, and automation systems founded in 1898 in Nagoya, Japan. It also manufactures CNC controls, drives, motors, encoders, and spindles.

In addition, the company launched the Okuma App Store in 2014, and it has a distribution network and a Partners in Technology (previously Partners in THINC) network for manufacturers in the Americas.

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At the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) next month in Chicago, the Factory Automation Division will show its new ORL product line:

Okuma said each ORL product has been strategically designed with a compact footprint, requiring only between 8 and 9 sq. ft. (0.7 to 0.8 sq. m) of floor space. In addition, each product uses FANUC industrial robot arms and grippers, which can hold a payload of up to 25 lb. (11.3 kg).

Okuma said it designed these machines to work alongside its existing line of products. For example, it will demonstrate its ORL-R robot with the MULTUS B300II multitasking machine to load and unload parts.

At the same time, an accompanying collaborative robot will transfer the parts from a cart moved by an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) into one of the unit’s pallet drawers.

Also at IMTS, the company will pair the ORL-MC with a GENOS M560V0-5AX five-axis vertical machining center plus an automatic tool changer (ATC). The unit will load and unload demo parts from the machine onto the ORL pallets.

The ORL-MC will also switch the workholding in the machine based on which cutting operation will be performed on the part, said Okuma.