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ABB introduced its Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) service that enables customers to create a preventive maintenance schedule for individual or robot fleets based on real-time operational data. ABB said the CBM service should optimize productivity and minimize downtime.

CBM uses real-time data on robot operations to help identify any potential issues that could affect performance, including duty, speed, acceleration, and gearbox wear. These variables are compared against other robots in ABB’s worldwide robot database to calculate the likelihood and timeframe of a potential fault or failure.

ABB said the CBM tool can advise whether remedial action is required, involving either repair or replacement of affected parts. By identifying which parts are likely to fail and when, spare parts can be purchased and prepared without having to hold them in stock, helping users to plan their budgets and ensure that resources are available to carry out the work when required.

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“By providing greater predictability around maintenance and repair schedules, our condition-based maintenance service allows customers to get the most from their installed robots. Customers can now optimize their production efficiency by eliminating unexpected downtime caused by failures or delays in obtaining spare parts to fix a fault,” said Antti Matinlauri, head of product management for ABB Robotics. “Users will also gain a better understanding of exactly which robots may have an increased risk of component failure, for example if they are over-utilized compared to others in a production line, or if heavy payloads are causing the robot to operate outside of its recommended design parameters for example.”

To help customers decide which preventive measures to take, a report is provided for the robot, including its serial number, summary table, data analysis, individual maintenance recommendations, conclusions, and rating of the system. Using this data, the customer can then design an appropriate maintenance schedule, with help available from ABB if required.