Exhibition Overview
 
From March 9 to 12, the 13th China International Machine Tool Show was held at the Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin. The exhibition featured multiple specialized zones covering machine tools, robots, automation, sheet-metal cutting, 3D printing, and more. With an exhibition area of 90,000 square meters, the show attracted 400 companies from over 20 countries and regions, drawing a total of 90,000 professional visitors.
 
In Hall N2-B28, the robotics exhibition area, STEP showcased a robotic aluminum formwork welding workstation, a cutting workstation, an advanced robotic operation training workbench, a machine tool loading and unloading workstation, and an intelligent “Gomoku” (Five-in-a-Row) robot workstation.
 
Robot-assisted aluminum formwork welding workstation
 
Welding Specifications: The STEP SA1400 welding robot uses gas-shielded welding with intelligent arc-starting. It can select the corresponding welding specifications from an expert library based on the thickness of the workpiece and the type of weld seam.
 
Technical Advantages: Stable performance and high-quality welding ensure uniformity; 24-hour continuous production is possible daily, boosting productivity; improved working conditions reduce the skill requirements for operators; automated welding of batch products is achievable, saving floor space. Additionally, based on customer requirements, optional features such as motion extensions, specialized fixtures, guardrails, safety light curtains, and dust removal equipment can be added.
 
Application scope: Used for welding aluminum formwork, such as welding aluminum formwork materials for construction purposes.

Robot-assisted aluminum formwork welding workstation

Robot Cutting Workstation

Technical Performance: The workstation is equipped with an SA1800 robot, which is used for cutting bevels along arbitrary curves. It can perform fixed-length cutting on various profiles, such as tenons and process holes in H-beams, L-beams, and U-beams. It can also cut various types of pipes, including square or round pipes (requires the use of a chuck).

Cutting methods include flame, plasma, laser, and high-pressure water.

Robot Cutting Workstation

Smart “Gomoku” Robot Workstation

The artificial intelligence AlphaGo. Last year, AlphaGo defeated the world’s top Go player, Lee Se-dol, by a score of 4 to 1. Earlier this year, in its new version, AlphaGo Master, it faced dozens of top Go players from Japan, China, and South Korea, achieving an impressive record of 60 wins and 0 losses. AlphaGo, this AI marvel, has ignited passion and excitement among humanity.

STEP Intelligent Robot. At the exhibition, STEP’s intelligent “Gomoku” robot fulfilled the eager desire of ordinary people to play against an AI-powered robotic opponent.

The “Gomoku” robot is powered by the STEP SD700 robot. Equipped with a visual recognition system, it can precisely identify the positions where players make their moves. A computer program then analyzes the player’s intentions, predicts the player’s likely future move locations over the next few turns, and calculates in advance the optimal response strategy.

This “Gomoku” robot workstation, independently designed by the R&D team of STEP Robotics, fully demonstrates STEP innovative capabilities in areas such as robot software development and system control. According to the R&D engineers, in actual matches against the robot, the probability of a human player winning is extremely low, making it highly challenging.

Application scope: The SD-series robots feature a compact design and lightweight construction, enabling them to perform high-speed, high-precision tasks such as loading/unloading, sorting, and assembly. They are widely used in industries including 3C.

A chess player plays against a robot.

Robot Advanced Operation Training Workstation

System Composition: The main structural components of the system include the SD500, the SD700 desktop robot, a simulated loading and unloading module, a simulated palletizing module, a basic training module, as well as an electrical control system and safety protection devices. The robot is mounted on a workbench constructed from aluminum profiles, and the other modules are arranged in a rational layout for easy operation.

Operation and running: Within the robot’s motion range, the entire workstation can operate in a cyclical manner, isolating human-machine simultaneous actions and enhancing equipment safety. The moving parts of other modules are driven by cylinders, making maintenance and debugging convenient, while the overall workbench remains neat and aesthetically pleasing.

Robot Advanced Operation Training Workstation

Robot-based loading and unloading workstation for machine tools

At this year’s exhibition, Tianjin Taijie Precision Machinery Co., Ltd. showcased a loading and unloading workstation for machine tools that utilizes the STEP SA1400 robot. Replacing manual labor with robots for loading and unloading operations not only reduces manpower but also enhances efficiency, providing an effective pathway for upgrading traditional manufacturing processes.

Tianjin Taijie Precision Machinery – Machine Tool Loading and Unloading Workstation

At the same time, at the technical exchange meeting held by the Tianjin Robotics Industry Association, Xu Long, Manager of the Marketing Department at Estun Robotics, delivered a technical presentation.

Email:
market@stepelectric.com

Address:
No. 1560, Siyi Road, Jiading District, Shanghai Municipality