Güdel introduces the TMF-5, Track Motion for the new generation of heavy weight robots

Jun 30, 2016

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN. Güdel, Inc, the US subsidiary of Swiss-based Güdel Group, announced today the new TMF-5, Track Motion Floor, for heavy industrial robots. The TMF-5 is the only standard linear motion product available on the market that can move an articulated robot with a payload over six metric tons. The TMF-5 is specially designed for the latest generation of heavy weight robots from FANUC, ABB and KUKA.

Available in standard lengths from 4 meters to over 100 meters, the TMF-5 frame is an all steel uni-body construction that delivers exceptional stiffness and repeatability in a compact footprint.  The TMF-5 carriage is a precision fabrication rather than a simple plate, again delivering high performance in a compact footprint.  Robot specific adaptor plates can be designed to accommodate any robot brand, and exist today for the FANUC M-900iB family, the ABB IRB-8700 family, and the KUKA KR 1000 Titan family. A single TMF-5 module can be configured with multiple independently driven carriages, and robot risers are available in 100mm increments.

“Güdel is the global leader in track motion for robots”, noted Joe Campbell, Vice President Sales & Marketing for Güdel, Inc.  “Our exclusive focus on linear motion technology allows us to keep pace with the robot industry, including the TMF-5 for this generation of heavyweight robots from Fanuc, ABB and KUKA.”

Working as a seventh axis for robots, the TMF-5 opens new possibilities in production processes. The TMF-5 is built with Güdel components, including guideways, helical gear racks, gearboxes and the Güdel exclusive roller bearing cartridge system that delivers industry-leading MTTR.

The TMF-5 is available today, and is already in use in the body shop of a major European automobile manufacturer.