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A compact robot for entry-level users

22 June 2022, Ratingen

Mitsubishi Electric's new MELFA RH-CR robots offer a space-saving SCARA solution for first-time robotics users. The design focuses on user-friendliness and cost efficiency, which makes the series ideal for companies that are at the beginning of their automation and digital transformation journey.

Mitsubishi has developed the RH-CR series to make robots and the efficiency improvements they bring more accessible. The new SCARA robots are not only particularly easy to operate and use, but also around 20 % cheaper than comparable models.

Thanks to their four axes and a reach of up to 700 mm, the RH-CR robots are ideally suited for pick & place, assembly, handling as well as sorting and palletising tasks. Applications to date range from plant handling in the agricultural industry to game console production in the electronics industry. Depending on the model, the robots’ payload is 3 or 6 kilograms. In addition, they offer cycle times of up to 0.41 seconds and an accuracy of ± 10 µm – an outstanding performance for their compact design.

Another impressive feature is their small footprint, as they only take up about 65% of the floor space of conventional robots. And thanks to the MELFA SafePlus function, there is also no need for bulky fencing when working cooperatively with humans.

Beginner-friendly robots

Easy setup and operation are important to make robotics applications user-friendly. Especially for companies that have not had much experience with robotics, this robot offers a good starting point to build up knowledge and experience.

For this purpose, Mitsubishi Electric offers a comprehensive starter set for the RH-CR series. It includes the intuitive RT ToolBox3 robot programming software, the compact CR800 robot controller and an R56TB Robot Teaching Box. Customers also get access to extensive online tutorials. This allows them to learn the necessary foundational knowledge quickly and easily.

Robotics make companies strong for the future

All parts of the RH-CR robotics starter kit are easy to operate and require no specialised programming knowledge. The CR800 robot controller and RT ToolBox3 software can also be used to operate all other Mitsubishi Electric robots. This greatly simplifies the implementation of more complex robotic applications further down the line. Thanks to its integration capabilities with different networks, the RH-CR robot can also communicate with other robots and devices.

Companies therefore invest not only in future-proof plants, but also in their employees’ skills. This is a point that is very close to Mitsubishi Electric's heart.

"With our automation solutions, we want to support companies and their employees to grow within the wider context of digital transformation," Michael Finke concludes. "The new SCARA models are an important link for us to bring people and robots together to enable the intelligent factories of the future."

The RH-CR series of robots is part of Mitsubishi Electric's efficiency line-up. This range offers the same high-quality products, but with fewer functionalities and less performance. As a result, they make it easy to get started with automation. Other products in this range include the MR-JET servos and the FR-CS80 inverters.

MELFA RH-CR at a glance:

Robot type Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm (SCARA)
Axes 4
Accuracy ± 10 µm
Cycle times up to 0,41 seconds
Reach up to 700 mm
Payload 3 kg or 6 kg
Included in the starter kit RT Toolbox3 programming software
CR800 robot controller
R56TB Robot Teaching Box
Access to comprehensive online tutorials
Key features
  1. -Very beginner-friendly
  2. -Suitable for human-robot cooperation with MELFA SafePlus
  3. -65 % smaller than conventional robot solutions
  4. -I/O card for 32 externe Ein- und Ausgänge

Mitsubishi Electric's new MELFA RH-CR robots offer a space-saving SCARA solution for robotics beginners.
[Source: Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V.]

About Mitsubishi Electric

With more than 100 years of experience in providing reliable, high-quality products, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) is a recognized world leader in the manufacture, marketing and sales of electrical and electronic equipment used in information processing and communications, space development and satellite communications, consumer electronics, industrial technology, energy, transportation and building equipment. Mitsubishi Electric enriches society with technology in the spirit of its “Changes for the Better.” The company recorded a revenue of 4,476.7 billion yen (U.S.$ 36.7 billion*) in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. For more information, please visit www.mitsubishielectric.com.

  1. *U.S. dollar amounts are translated from yen at the rate of ¥122 =U.S.$1, the approximate rate on the Tokyo Foreign Exchange Market on March 31, 2022.

About Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation Business Group

Offering a vast range of automation and processing technologies, including controllers, drive products, power distribution and control products, electrical discharge machines, electron beam machines, laser processing machines, computerized numerical controllers, and industrial robots, Mitsubishi Electric helps bring higher productivity – and quality – to the factory floor. In addition, our extensive service networks around the globe provide direct communication and comprehensive support to customers.

Factory Automation EMEA

Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V., Factory Automation EMEA has its European headquarters in Ratingen near Dusseldorf, Germany. It is a part of Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V. that has been represented in Germany since 1978, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Japan.

The role of Factory Automation EMEA is to manage sales, service and support across its network of local branches and distributors throughout the EMEA region.
For more information, please visit eu3a.mitsubishielectric.com/fa


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Note that the press releases are accurate at the time of publication but may be subject to change without notice.