ABB IRB 6640

The IRB 6640 is a 235 kg, 2550 mm six-axis arm positioned as a foundry-proven material handler. Its summary points at heavy-payload material handling, machine tending, and press-tending duty in foundry and stamping work. At 1310 kg of robot mass, it's a floor-mounted machine sized for high-load cycles.

The record lists 0.05 mm repeatability, and its strengths note a rigid structure that holds accuracy under load. That pairing suits machine-tending, where a heavy part has to land the same way each cycle. The long 2550 mm reach opens a wide work-envelope for servicing machines from a distance.

The arm is rated IP67 and runs on the IRC5 controller. It was introduced in 2007, and the record notes a long service life in continuous operation.

Its application set centers on material-handling and palletizing, tasks that lean on payload and reach more than on light-touch precision. With a 235 kg payload rating, it's built to move heavy loads rather than handle small parts. The wide envelope from a 2550 mm reach lets a single arm cover a large stacking or transfer area.

The considerations flag a large footprint with real foundation needs, and note the arm isn't economical for lighter-duty tasks. Anyone sizing a cell should plan for the floor space and foundation a 1310 kg arm requires.

For continuous palletizing or heavy machine-tending, the rigid structure and 0.05 mm repeatability are the traits that keep loads landing consistently across long shifts. That steady-under-load behavior is the record's core case for putting it in a high-duty foundry or stamping cell.