The renowned robotics manufacturer, Mecademic, packs optimum accuracy and precision into its small-sized powerhouses. Mecademic robot arms are the most precise and compact industrial robots you’ll come across in the market, and they can be easily integrated into the most complex and confined applications.

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These robots are mainly intended for industrial use in a vast array of applications such as micro-precision positioning, assembly, dispensing, testing and inspection, and pick and place . If you are interested in optimizing your project with an equally precise and small industrial robotic arm, you’ve come to the right place.

In this guide, we will talk about the world’s most precise and smallest 6-axis industrial robot arm, the Mecademic Meca500, and its many exclusive features and benefits.

Introduction to the Meca500

The Meca500 is the most accurate, smallest, and easy-to-use industrial robotic arm in the world, and Mecademic, a small robotics manufacturer based in Canada, is its creator. The Meca500 robot outperforms other robots in its repetitive and precise manipulation of small parts and tools in various industries.

Back in , Mecademic designed and debuted a miniature dual-arm SCARA robot called DexTAR for educational purposes. Even though DexTAR is now discontinued, it turned out that the robot appealed more significantly to manufacturers who would inquire if the miniature robot could be quickly adopted for pick and place purposes in industry.

Eventually, the team behind it figured out it was crucial to address the industry use case. They even had the expertise required to create small robots. Hence, this led to the creation of a 6-axis industrial robot, the Meca500.

The company received great appreciation and instant positive feedback when it uploaded a demo video of Meca500 in May on its YouTube channel. Since then, people have viewed the video almost half a million times.

Anyone who writes “miniature or small robot” on the search bar will definitely come across the Meca500. It is a one-of-a-kind robot that has received much recognition and helped Mecademic become known worldwide.

An In-Depth Study of the Meca500

Mecademic and its small team take great pride in the fact that they manufacture practically everything for the Meca500 robots out of a 10,000 sq. ft. assembly and production facility near downtown Montreal. The team behind this powerhouse only buys a few main components, such as the processors, from elsewhere.

Still, the company manufactures the majority of the items on its own, including the drives for the Maxon motors and the aluminum housing. Moreover, it also implements all the coding for the in-house robot controllers without requiring a library.

Meca500 gets its laser-like precision from the zero-backlash gearboxes from Harmonic Drive, with 5μm repeatability. For instance, you’re bound to see substantial electronic parts and vacant space while opening and looking inside of another robot. However, every bit of space is utilized in the case of Meca500.

The bigger the robot is, the more small errors you encounter in the joints, which is exactly why Meca500 is designed to be more precise. Mecademic utilizes a coordinate-measuring machine (CMM) to detect the mistakes and scrutinize each robot instead of the metrology machinery that is prevalent amongst industrial robot manufacturers, like laser trackers.

This allows the Meca500 to achieve an incredibly high precision rate and satisfies the requirements of the company’s clients who use it for inspection. Inspecting electronic gadgets such as cameras or cellphones requires moving the robot with high precision.

The Meca500 does not require a bulky external cabinet. This enables the Meca500 robot to be mounted in confined spaces for precision assembly, testing, machine tending, quality inspection, and dispensing across manufacturing industries, including aerospace, electronics, watchmaking, and medical devices, and automotive.

Immense Control on a Small Scale

Since everything is embedded within the Meca500’s base, there aren’t any thick cables or desktop controller boxes to deal with. Once you plug in the Meca500 with an Ethernet cable, it can be programmed straightaway from a web-based interface that can be accessed on any desktop computer.

Mecademic believes in the philosophy that robots are a component that should complement your current operations. Operators can use their own choice of programming language to convey the instructions to the robot through EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, or the TCP/IP protocol.

The Meca500 industrial robot arm features countless rotations on the end joint, onto which any type of tooling can be affixed using an adapter plate. The company also collaborated with several other companies like SCHUNK on a proprietary diminutive electrical parallel gripper, the MEGP-25, which can be controlled similar to the same commands used to move the Meca500 robot arm.

How Meca500 Stands Out From Other Industrial Robots

Wondering what makes the Meca500 industrial robot arm stand out from other robot arms? Meca500 is distinctive in the sense that it is a plug-and-work robotic part that can easily work in conjunction with any PLC or PC, unlike other industrial robots that mainly work as complex stand-alone systems.

This robot acts as a slave more than a master, making it incredibly simple to integrate through a PLC or computer. Moreover, it is relatively easy to use, affordable and does not require a proprietary language to learn. It is one of the few industrial robots with a controller at its base. It is also the only industrial robot arm that is small enough to fit into the palm of your hand.

Meca500 is also designed to minimize deployment time and to optimize space efficiency in factories and labs. Finally, the best part about Meca500 is that there is no need for software installations, training courses, or extra option purchases. Here are some of the applications for Mecademic’s robots:

• Micro-manipulation
• Pick and place
• Assembly
• Dispensing
• Machine tending
• Testing and inspection

Mecademic at the Automate Tradeshow

Last week at Automate in Detroit, Michigan, Mecademic’s booth was on display from June 6th till June 9th, , featuring 35 of Mecademic’s small industrial robots. Anyone who attended the show got a chance to see this one-of-a-kind diminutive robot up close.

These robots worked effortlessly and tirelessly in demonstrating to people how all robotics problems can be resolved at the snap of a finger, using the help of various end-of-arm tooling and several other automation parts. People were invited to interact with Mecademic’s team to discuss their automation needs.

Besides the Meca500 itself, Mecademics also released an array of new adhesive grippers for the Meca500 6-axis small industrial robot in collaboration with its German partners, Innocise and SCHUNK. These cable-less ADHESO grippers are entirely passive, meaning there’s absolutely no need for messy cables. Moreover, they don’t leave marks behind on parts.

The fact that Mecademic’s Meca500 has gained so much recognition can be witnessed from its exhibition at the Automate tradeshow, which might make you wonder what it is about the Meca500 that makes it so distinct?

In this next section, we will look at the Meca500 robot’s cutting-edge specifications and numerous features to make you know what exactly you are getting your hands on.

The Meca500 Robot’s Key Features and Benefits

Using the Meca500 small industrial robot arm in your business has various benefits. These include the following:

Minimized Footprint

The Meca500 robot is a miniature robot that is relatively small compared to any other industrial robotic arm. Besides including a controller contained within its base, it is also remarkably portable.

Enables Robot Arm Integration

Another thing that makes the Meca500 different from any other industrial robot is that it’s a plug-and-work component that is easy to interface with any PLC or computer. As a result, businesses can efficiently work with the robot using any programming language they prefer.

Reduce Tolerances

The best thing about the Meca500 robot is that it is constructed with zero-backlash gearboxes and precision-machined aluminum, making it the most accurate 6-axis industrial robot in the world. Moreover, it takes great pride in offering repeatability of 5μm.

Benefit From Flexibility

The Meca500 robot can be simply mounted in any orientation. This built-in flexibility allows for easy integration in various settings. It mechanically makes up for gravity without needing any software adjustments.

Meca500 Specifications

Now, let’s move on to the unique specifications of the Meca500 small industrial robot.

Robot Arm

The reach of this miniature industrial robot arm is 260mm. It is barely 4.5 kg and has a payload of 0.5 kg rated (maximum 1 kg). Still, when it is fully extended, it can extend up to 330mm.

Precision

Mecademic’s outstanding precision robot arm is facilitated with premium-quality zero-backlash speed and the best quality high-resolution encoders in the market. Moreover, it comprises precision assembled, and precision-machined components, all of which are examined at the company.

Controller

The controller of the Meca500 robot is included in its base, which is the size of the palm of a hand. It doesn’t contain any bulky controller cabinet, messy cables, or teach pendant. Moreover, since it has a small footprint, this small industrial robot is best suited for tiny and cramped spaces.

Power Supply and Safety

Finally, the Meca500 robot is also equipped with an external 24-volt power supply with a safety module, emergency stop button, and safety I/O (input/output) interface. You can easily connect the external power supply with any standard electrical outlet (120-volt).

Operation

You can easily link the Meca500 robot with a computer or PLC through the Ethernet cable offered and use your choice of programming language like Python, C#, Java, etc. You may also control the robot by most PLCs via structured text or ladder logic. Users may also interact with the robot through EtherCAT, ensuring a response every time. Another benefit with EtherCAT is, as with most devices supporting the protocol, devices can be daisy-chained together which eliminates the need to run individual ethernet cables back to a network switch.

At its simplest level, users can send string commands to the robot arm over TCP/IP. The commands comprise usual robot instructions like MoveLin(x,y,z,α,β,γ). Likewise, the robot’s controller sends back strings with multiple types of feedback.

The controller features of Meca500 consist of an intuitive web interface for operation, which users can access using any web browser.

The Significance of Working with a Robot Integrator

A good integrator’s job is to define the need or issue in the end-user's process, come up with a solution, work on building it, and finally test it to see the results.

Being an integrator, our job is to tailor the robots accordingly to match the requirements of the end user's application. This falls outside of the responsibilities of robot manufacturers, as they don’t have the required resources or personnel to tackle the end-users needs.

As a result, robot integrators tend to bridge this gap with specialized programming, engineering, and design resources. There are other aspects that an integrator can take care of for you as well, such as tooling, safety fencing and light curtains, PLC programming, machine vision systems, and control panel fabrication. This makes it crucial for companies to work with robot integrators like B2E Automation as we’ll help them strategize on how to best use the robot.

After this, we fit the robotic solution into the customer’s production processes and offer fundamental training to ensure the final users can easily run and maintain the system correctly, without fail.

Why You Should Work With B2E Automation

Admittedly, robot integrators are by no means experts in every application. Instead, there are usually a handful of common applications they will specialize in. Some applications are incredibly process-intensive. Hence, it is crucial to choose a robot integrator with a skillset and proficiency that best matches your requirements.

At B2E, we are focused on helping you get optimal value with automated robots that can maximize your output and human power, and ease the complexities of your standard working operations for enhanced efficiency.

Here at B2E Automation, we excel in pick and place robots, material handling robots, palletizing and depalletizing robots, and a wide variety of applications where machine vision is involved. With our ability to address your needs on everything from high level design, down to low level control panel fabrication, we are happy to take a look at any application you are working on.

Mecademic Certified Integrator

The recently launched Mecademic Certified Integrator program connects customers considering a Meca500 robot with some of the most experienced and highly skilled integrators. B2E Automation is proud to be one of the first companies to have earned this accreditation. If you looking for an integrator who can fulfill all your robotic solutions, you’ve come to the right place.

A certified Mecademic integrator will help you learn how to use robots in the most effective manner, and to develop custom solutions that include the robot, so that your business can benefit in terms of productivity and profitability. An integrator also has access to preferred pricing and priority support, along with other benefits that can be passed onto you.

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Wrapping Up

All of Mecademic’s high-precision miniature industrial robots, including the Meca500, offer lower costs, space savings, and optimized flexibility in any robotics application. These industrial robotic arms are manufactured and designed using the best-in-class, premium quality components.

We hope this ultimate guide to buying a Mecademic Meca500 Robot has helped you understand what makes the Meca500 one of the unique small industrial robots in the field of industrial automation from Mecademic different from other automation companies .

BlueROV2 Buyer’s Guide by Options

By Elisa and Kristel

Introduction

Since its debut in , the BlueROV2 has proven itself to be a capable ROV. Because of its reasonable price point and thorough documentation, it has been used by hobbyists, academia, commercial entities, and government organizations. Its open and flexible hardware and software design has encouraged customers to start with the basic BlueROV2 design and add accessories or make modifications suited for their application.

If you are new to ROVs, we have a quick guide to get you up to speed!

The BlueROV2 comes partially assembled and requires six to eight hours of user assembly to complete. During the assembly process, you will learn how all of the components of the system fit together and you will build the knowledge needed to make upgrades and improvements in the future.

One important aspect of the BlueROV2 that sets it apart from traditional observation-class ROVs is that the user can start with a basic vehicle and then add accessories later as needed. You are not locked into one configuration at the time of purchase. Accessories can be removed and replaced with common hand tools. Updated components can be installed and changed out as they become available. A full history of updates to the BlueROV2 can be found under the “Technical Details” section of the Product page under the “Revision History” subheading.

This guide provides an overview of the available options when configuring your BlueROV2 package. If you have a requirement for a piece of equipment we do not carry, you may wish to reach out to our distributors who carry many of these other items and offer customization, build, and maintenance services for BlueROV2s.

If you work in a specific industry, then we have an additional guide with our equipment recommendations for different applications: BlueROV2 Buyer’s Guide by Application

What's included in the BlueROV2 base package

The BlueROV2 comes partially assembled with the electronics and watertight enclosures tested. Assembly takes approximately six to eight hours with hand tools- although we’ve seen it accomplished in under two hours by a skilled technician! After assembly, the major components will be as follows:

• 1 x BlueROV2 (as configured). The base package does not include a tether or lights, these need to be configured from the available options when purchasing.
• 1 x Fathom-X Tether Interface (FXTI). This is the interface box you will use to connect the tether to your computer.

A complete list of what is included in the BlueROV2 base package can be found in the “Contents” section of the product page. To find a specific component, you may have to click through the available subassembly product pages.

What's not included with the BlueROV2 base package but required for operation

These are the items that are required for operation but are not included in the base package:

• A tether. You must select a tether from the available options to add to the base package. Only a single twisted pair of the tether is used by default, and the “slim” tether can provide significant drag advantages if the other twisted pairs are not required by your application. Typically 1.5x to 2x the target depth is required in tether length, especially when operating in ocean currents.
• A 4S (14.8 V) battery. Because of shipping restrictions, a battery cannot be included in the base package add-ons and you will need to add it to your cart separately. Be aware that we cannot ship our batteries to all countries. Our BlueROV2 compatible batteries are listed below:
• Blue Robotics Lithium-ion Battery (14.8V, 18Ah)
• Blue Robotics Lithium Polymer Battery (14.8V, 10Ah)
• A battery charger, such as our H6 PRO Lithium Battery Charger.
• A Laptop or computer. The topside control software, QGroundControl, is compatible with Windows (10 and up), macOS, and Linux. Android or iOS tablets are not recommended. You can view the minimum system requirements in the BlueROV2 technical details.
• A gamepad controller. The Xbox Wireless Controller can be added as an option to the base package but many other gamepad controllers are also compatible. If your controller works here, it is supported!

Configuring your BlueROV2 Package

This section will walk you through the available options and add-ons when configuring your BlueROV2 package from the BlueROV2 product page.

Base Package Tube Configuration

The first option available is the tube material that is included in the BlueROV2 base package. The material of the tube determines the depth rating of the BlueROV2. The acrylic option is depth rated to 100 meters and the aluminum option is depth rated to 300 meters.

Heavy Configuration Add-on

The BlueROV2 Heavy Configuration Retrofit Kit can be added to enable 6 degree-of-freedom control and active pitch and roll stabilization, increasing the maneuverability and stability of your BlueROV2. This kit adds two more vertical thrusters and moves all vertical thrusters to the outside of the ROV frame. Additional buoyancy foam blocks and fairings are included to retain the right amount of buoyancy and prevent the external vertical thrusters from snagging on objects.

The Heavy Configuration does not increase the horizontal speed of the BlueROV2, but it does double the thrust in the vertical direction. This is especially useful for use grabbing objects with the Newton Subsea Gripper. The BlueROV2 Heavy Configuration Retrofit Kit is recommended when accessories like sonars or manipulators are installed.

Tether

Radio waves don’t travel far through water and acoustic modems have limited bandwidth, so a tether is a required component to connect the vehicle to a surface computer.

The standard 4-twisted pair Fathom tether is the default for the BlueROV2 because it has the longest communications distance and the greatest flexibility for future accessories, with 3/4 twisted pairs unused by default. With the utilization of the Fathom-X Tether Interface Board, Ethernet data carrying telemetry and video is transmitted using only one twisted pair of wires. The other twisted pairs (green, brown, orange) are open for expansion. The standard 4-twisted pair tether is available in lengths of 25 to 300 meters. We recommend this tether for most users.

The slim 1-twisted pair tether is an alternate tether option. This tether has only one pair of wires (blue and blue/white) so it still allows for full BlueROV2 communications but lacks additional twisted wire pairs for future expansion. This tether is best used when tether drag or weight is a concern. The 1-twisted pair tether is available in lengths of 50 to 200 meters. This tether can make a huge difference when operating in strong currents or trying to reach deep locations!

Do not add a tether to your package if you are using the Outland Technology Power Supply, as this system requires a specific tether and connectors.

Lights

The Lights selection is the next selectable option on the BlueROV2 product page. The options are:

• No Lights
• 2 Lights (1 Pair)
• 4 Lights (2 Pairs)

We generally recommend the 2-light option, which is suitable for most applications. If you’re operating in good lighting conditions and shallow water, lights may be unnecessary. If you’re operating at night or in low-light conditions, the 4-light option may be best. If you’re not sure, you can always add a set of lights later.

Tether Spool

Many people choose to manage the tether without a spool, but it’s a very useful accessory for the BlueROV2. The Fathom Spool simplifies the storage and tether management of the vehicle and significantly decreases the amount of work the operator must do. If you are getting a tether longer than 50 meters, we recommend getting a tether spool.

There are two sizes of tether reel available, standard and large. The standard size spool can hold up to 150 meters of the 4-twisted pair tether and 200 meters of the 1-twisted pair tether. Use the large size spool for 4-twisted pair tethers longer than 150 meters.

The spool is not compatible with the high-power cable used for the Outland Technology Power Supply due to the voltage limitations of the internal slip-ring.

Gripper

The BlueROV2 can be outfitted with a gripper (manipulator). A gripper is a useful tool for picking up small objects, attaching recovery lines, or freeing a snagged tether. Installing the BlueROV2 Heavy Configuration Retrofit Kit in addition to the Newton Subsea Gripper allows for the BlueROV2 to pitch forward and hold its angle while maneuvering to pick up objects on the sea floor.

Scanning Imaging Sonar

Sometimes water conditions don’t allow for great visibility. So, if you think you will be operating in limited visibility, it is recommended to install an imaging sonar.

One of the most useful types of sonars on an ROV is what is known as a mechanically scanning sonar. Scanning sonars are useful tools for navigation, and acoustically imaging targets in a top-down 2-dimensional representation. If you are new to scanning sonars, we have a guide that explains the key concepts of using a scanning sonar: Understanding and Using Scanning Sonars.

Xbox Controller

A handheld gamepad controller is required to operate the BlueROV2. The Xbox Controller is our preferred controller so it’s available as an add-on option. The topside software, QGroundControl, is compatible with many other common controllers so you can use a different controller if you have a favorite. The Logitech F310 is also a good, inexpensive alternative.

Next Steps

After you have configured your BlueROV2 package, you will also need to add a battery. The next section explains the power options available to you.

Power Options

The BlueROV2 comes configured for battery power by default, but there is an option to upgrade to a high-voltage topside power supply without batteries.

Battery Power

An onboard battery is the default method for powering the BlueROV2 because it is safe and provides a very portable system that does not require a generator or a wall outlet. High-capacity batteries are affordable and have a high discharge capacity allowing for quick bursts of speed if needed. We have a couple of battery options available:

• Blue Robotics Lithium-ion Battery (14.8V, 18Ah). This is our highest amp-hour capacity battery for the longest runtime. This high capacity means that it’s prohibited from taking onto airplanes, so keep that in mind if you plan to fly with your BlueROV2.
• Blue Robotics Lithium Polymer Battery (14.8V, 10Ah). This battery option has a lower capacity meaning it has a shorter runtime than our 18Ah battery. The great thing about this battery however is that it is suitable for travel on passenger aircraft! This option is great if you need a more affordable battery or frequently need to fly with your BlueROV2.

The especially high capacity of our batteries means that they are subject to more stringent shipping regulations than our other products and can only be shipped to a small number of countries. If we cannot ship batteries to your country, please see the Finding an Alternative Battery section below for some advice on sourcing a battery.

In addition to a battery, you will also need a battery charger such as our H6 Pro Lithium Battery Charger.

An optional, but useful, accessory to have is the Battery Cell Checker. It allows you to quickly check the charge on your batteries before plugging them into your BlueROV2.

High Voltage Power Supply

For those users who need to be able to run all day without changing out batteries, Blue Robotics has partnered with Outland Technology to provide the Outland Technology Power Supply (OTPS) for the BlueROV2. This system operates from 100-240VAC power source such as a wall outlet or generator, but enables indefinite run times.

The OTPS requires a specially designed high-power tether. If you planning to use the OTPS to power your BlueROV2, do not add the Fathom Tether to your package. The Tether Spool is also not compatible with the OTPS system.

Finding An Alternative Battery

If we are unable to ship a battery to your country, many of our distributors also stock and sell compatible batteries. Please check out our full Distributor Map for a list of distributors that sell batteries.

The BlueROV2 is compatible with many off-the-shelf LiPo batteries. If you plan on sourcing an alternative battery, it should have the following specifications:

• 4S (14.8V nominal) lithium-ion or lithium polymer battery
• Rated for at least 60A continuous discharge, 120A burst discharge
• At least 10 Ah is recommended (greater Ah capacity provides longer runtime)
• XT90 or XT90S connector (or use an adapter)
• Width and height must fit within a circle 74 mm in diameter
• Length must be less than 200 mm

This battery is an example of a good alternative:

• Turnigy Li-po (14.8V, 10Ah) (Hobby King)

Other Accessories and Spares

BlueROV2 Spares Kit

This kit contains a number of spare parts that are nice to have on hand for the BlueROV2. The contents of this kit are based on our own experiences and should provide you with most replacements you might need out in the field including consumables such as O-rings, grease, and zip ties.

Payload Skid

The Payload Skid is a modular frame for the BlueROV2 with mounting points for additional watertight enclosures and lights. Using the Payload Skid, you can add additional large instruments and other equipment to your BlueROV2. Adding buoyancy is often required when adding additional payloads, to keep the vehicle neutral to slightly positively buoyant. This calculator can help you determine how much to add!

Altimeter and Echosounder

Another useful type of sonar is an echosounder, also known as an altimeter when installed on an ROV. An altimeter is a single-beam sonar that gets a range measurement from the bottom of the ROV to the seabed. This is useful in low-visibility situations where the distance to the bottom is unknown.

In addition to getting a distance reading, echosounders can provide the full echo response (echo strength versus time) which can be plotted like the display of a fishfinder sonar, which is useful for locating targets or obstructions beneath the ROV.

Further Resources and Inspiration

Other Components in the Blue Robotics Online Store

The options listed above only explain the components that were either designed for or integrate easily with the BlueROV2. The Blue Robotics Online Store has over 200 other components for helping to build what you want. Some components can be easily added, but others will need modifications. If you have questions on your custom application, don’t hesitate to contact us with questions!

Blue Robotics Forums

The Blue Robotics Forums are a great resource to see how others in the undersea community have approached specific problems. The Builds and Mods category is a good area to look in for additional inspiration.

Modifications and Accessories from Distributors

Need an accessory or modification for your BlueROV2 that you know exists but we don’t offer? Check out our worldwide Distributors List, many of whom offer services to modify your BlueROV2 for your requirements or have access to 3rd party accessories.

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