1000-4000kg Payload Four Carriage 0.05mm Repeatability 7th Axis Robot Linear Track

1000-4000kg Payload Four Carriage 0.05mm Repeatability 7th Axis Robot Linear Track

The RL series 7th axis robot linear track moves a floor mounted industrial robot along a machined steel rail, so one robot can serve several machines, fixtures or pallet positions arranged in a row. Four preloaded profile roller carriages run on hardened guideways, and the rail is built from 0.5 m modules, which means a 30m travel layout is assembled from standard parts instead of one custom casting. Payload ratings of 1000kg, 2000kg and 4000kg cover compact handling cells as well as heavy welding lines, and repeat positioning accuracy of 0.05mm is held along the whole stroke, so every station receives the workpiece in the same position.

Drive comes from a helical rack and pinion with a servo motor, and an integrated oil circuit feeds every carriage, pinion and guide block from one central lubrication point. The steel drag chain can sit on the left, top or right side of the rail to follow the dress pack of the robot already in the cell. Rails are machined after welding and finished with an anti-corrosion coating, so straightness and rack backlash stay inside tolerance through continuous two-shift production. The rail is prepared for KUKA Quantec and Fortec, ABB IRB6640 to IRB7600, FANUC R-2000 and M-900 robots, and adapter plates are machined per robot model.

Technical Specifications

Application Fields

The rail is normally specified for the following cells:

• Welding: continuous seam welding on long fabrications where the robot travels with the torch instead of the fixture moving.
• Gluing and sealing: constant bead height over a full panel because the 0.05mm repeatability is held from the first station to the last.
• Machine tending: one robot loading and unloading a row of CNC or injection molding machines from a shared rail.
• Handling: transferring heavy assemblies between press, buffer and pallet positions along a 30m travel base.
• Palletizing: multi position stacking where the carriage indexes between pallets without re-teaching the robot.

Key Advantages

• Stable accuracy over long distance: the 0.05mm repeatability applies to the full stroke, not only to a short test section.
• Four carriages on one rail: several robots share the same guideway, so cell capacity grows without duplicating floor space.
• Modular length: rails are supplied in 0.5 m segments, so the effective stroke can be extended later by adding modules.
• Low maintenance effort: one central lubrication point drives the integrated oil circuit for all carriages and pinions.
• Flexible cable routing: three drag chain positions let the track match the existing dress pack and cell layout.
• Batch consistency: identical machining and assembly procedures keep spare parts and commissioning predictable across lines.

Choosing the Right Configuration

Inside the range the choice usually comes down to the process. A 4 carriage seventh axis rail suits a line that mixes welding, handling and palletizing, because extra carriages let two robots share one guideway. Where the seam needs tighter stops than 0.05mm, the KL series holds 0.02mm; where chips and spatter dominate, the RLC version adds covers and a closed drag chain. Buyers comparing a 1000-4000kg payload linear track across brands usually check the same three figures: moving mass, maximum travel and stop tolerance. A 0.05mm repeatability robot track result measured at both ends of a 30m run is what separates a rail that can weld from one that can only transport, and it is the reason this 7th axis robot linear track is specified for seam work rather than only for transfers.

Quality Control and Delivery

Every rail segment is checked for straightness, rack backlash and carriage preload before packing, and each set ships with an inspection sheet recording the measured values at several points along the run. Segments are wrapped in anti-rust film, carriages are fixed on wooden pallets, and the complete set travels in an export-grade plywood case with desiccant. Guide blocks, a lubrication cartridge and a commissioning manual are included, so a cell can return to production quickly after a consumable change.

FAQ

Q: What payload can the RL series robot linear track carry?
A: The RL1000, RL2000 and RL4000 carriages are rated 1000kg, 2000kg and 4000kg including the robot, its tooling and the workpiece. Choose the model so that the total moving mass stays inside the rating at the required speed.

Q: How is 0.05mm repeatability kept across a 30m travel?
A: Segments are machined in 0.5 m increments, aligned with pins at each joint and measured after assembly. Rack preload and carriage preload are set at commissioning, so accuracy is verified at multiple points rather than at one position.

Q: Can more than one robot work on the same rail?
A: Yes. Up to four carriages can run on one rail. Each carriage has its own drive and is coordinated as an external axis by the robot controller, so two robots can work different stations without interfering.

Q: Which robots fit the adapter plates?
A: Plates are available for KUKA Quantec and Fortec, ABB IRB6640 to IRB7600, FANUC R-2000 and M-900. Please confirm the robot model and mounting flange when ordering so the plate and riser height can be matched.

Q: Can the rail be lengthened after installation?
A: Yes. Modules of 0.5 m are added at the end of the run, so a 4 carriage seventh axis rail installed for two stations can later cover six. The same 1000-4000kg payload linear track frame and drive sizes are reused, and the 0.05mm repeatability robot track values are re-checked at commissioning after the extension.