KUKA ROBOTS

KUKA KR60 Jet and Gantry Mounted Robots

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KUKA KR60 Jet and Gantry Mounted Robots

A gantry mounted robot hangs from an overhead linear axis instead of standing on the floor. The KUKA KR60 Jet is built this way: a 60 kg class robot that travels along a rail above the work. It beats a floor robot when parts are long, floor space is tight, or one robot has to serve several machines.

How a Gantry Robot Works

Picture a floor robot on a track, then flip the track up overhead. The robot rides along a beam supported by posts or building steel, and works down into the cell below it. The travel axis adds working range the arm could never reach from a fixed base. Our post on robot transfer units covers the floor version of the same idea, and we stock 7th axis robot tracks for that kind of layout.

The KR60 Jet units we carry run on the KRC4 controller and date from 2012. You can see them, along with the rest of our KUKA stock, on the used KUKA robots page.

When a Gantry Robot Beats a Floor Robot

  • Long work zones. One overhead robot can cover a long line of fixtures or machines that would otherwise need two or three floor robots.
  • Serving several machines. Gantry robots are a natural fit for machine tending robots across a row of CNCs and for press tending down a press line.
  • Clear floor. With the robot overhead, forklifts, carts and operators have room at floor level, and the cell takes up less of your plant footprint.
  • Loading from above. Lifting parts straight up and out of a fixture, a tote or a machine is often simpler from overhead. That helps on parts transfer robots and palletizing robots jobs.

When a Floor Robot Is the Better Call

Gantry systems are not the answer for every cell. A floor robot is easier to set, simpler to get at for maintenance and needs no overhead steel. If the robot only has to serve one machine or one fixture, a standard arm usually wins. For extra height without a gantry, look at our robot riser and robot floor plate listings and check the fit against your arm. A heavy arm like the KUKA KR100-2 HA covers plenty of material handling robots work from a fixed base.

Other Gantry Options We Carry

The KR60 Jet is not the only overhead setup on our floor.

Gudel overhead gantry. We have a Gudel TMO-3 overhead gantry system from 2023 in our robots from other brands category. Gudel is known for linear axes and gantries. Check the listing for exactly what comes with the system.

FANUC R-2000iB/220U gantry cell. Our 2022 gantry cell runs an R-2000iB/220U on an R-30iB controller. The FANUC R-2000iB/220U data sheet lists 220 kg of payload with 2,470 mm of reach. FANUC also built the R-2000iB/220US for rail or ceiling mount, and the later R-2000iC/220U carries the same 220 kg at 2,470 mm. Our FANUC R-2000 series guide covers the rest of the family.

What to Check on a Used Gantry Robot

  • Travel length. Measure the work zone you need to cover and compare it to the rail length on the listing. Extending a rail is a bigger job than it sounds.
  • Support structure. The posts and beams have to be engineered for the load and the motion. Find out what support steel comes with the system and what you will need to add.
  • Axis control. Ask how the travel axis is driven and whether it runs from the robot controller or its own control.
  • Cables and carriers. A long travel axis runs cables through a carrier for its full length. Read our notes on robot cable management and on robot connection cables before you look at one.
  • Tooling. Overhead robots work down into the cell, so plan your end of arm tooling for that approach.
  • Freight. Large gantry systems usually ship in sections. Everything ships FOB Imlay City, Michigan, and the buyer arranges freight.

Gantry and Overhead Stock

Related Guides

Taking Out a Gantry Line?

We buy gantry robots, tracks and complete cells. Send us the details on our sell your used robots page, or ask about equipment appraisals.

To talk about a gantry setup, call 586-752-0090, extension 1 for sales, or contact our sales team.