Beckhoff ATRO Review: Features and Uses of the Modular Robot System
Updated: 7 days ago
The Beckhoff ATRO is a kit of modules from which a robot arm of almost any shape can be assembled. The manufacturer does not publish a price. This review covers its specifications, features and uses.
Quick Verdict
ATRO does not have a payload or a reach: the user builds them. Motor modules, each with a servo drive, motor, brake and gearbox, are joined by passive link modules of various lengths on a base module. The result can be a single rotary axis, a four-joint pick-and-place arm, a six- or seven-joint arm, or several arms. Power, data, vacuum and air run inside every module to the tool flange, so there are no external cables and each joint can rotate without limit. The arm is controlled from the same TwinCAT system as the rest of the machine, over EtherCAT in sub-millisecond cycles. The page gives no figures for payload, reach or precision.
Beckhoff ATRO at a Glance
Concept: Modular; freely configurable kinematics
Motor modules: Servo inverter, motor with brake and gearbox
Link modules: Passive, in various designs and lengths
Base modules: Feed in power, data and fluids
System modules: Adapt to an ISO tool flange
Price: on request
Beckhoff ATRO Features
The table below lists what the manufacturer states.
Specification | Beckhoff ATRO |
Manufacturer | Beckhoff Automation |
Concept | Modular; freely configurable kinematics |
Motor modules | Servo inverter, motor with brake and gearbox |
Link modules | Passive, in various designs and lengths |
Base modules | Feed in power, data and fluids |
System modules | Adapt to an ISO tool flange |
Media | Power, data, vacuum and air routed internally |
Joint rotation | Endless |
Control | TwinCAT over EtherCAT |
Connectivity | PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, OPC UA |
Payload, reach and repeatability depend on the configuration and are not stated on the page.
Design and Build Quality
Because media pass through the joints, nothing has to be unwound, and the arm has a clean outer surface. The controller scans the assembled structure to obtain its kinematics.
Software and Integration
One Controller
Robot, motion, PLC and vision run on one TwinCAT system.
Kinematics
Examples range from one axis to seven joints and multi-arm cells.
Beckhoff ATRO Applications and Use Cases
Machine-Integrated Handling
A robot designed to fit the machine instead of the reverse.
Pick and Place and Palletizing
Four- and five-joint configurations.
Hard-to-Reach Tasks
Seven-joint arms.
Beckhoff ATRO Price and Value
Beckhoff does not publish a price for the Beckhoff ATRO; it is quoted on request.
For the company behind the product, read the Beckhoff Automation Company Profile: History, Ownership, Figures and Technology.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Kinematics built to the task
No external cables or hoses
Endless joint rotation
One control platform with the machine
Cons
No payload or reach figures on the page
Requires engineering to configure
Tied to Beckhoff control
No published price
Who Should Buy the Beckhoff ATRO?
It fits machine builders already using Beckhoff control who want a robot integrated into their machine.
Beckhoff ATRO FAQ
How much does the Beckhoff ATRO cost?
Beckhoff does not publish a price for the Beckhoff ATRO; it is quoted on request.
What is the Beckhoff ATRO?
A modular robot system assembled from motor and link modules.
How many axes can an ATRO robot have?
The number is freely scalable; examples range from one axis to seven joints.
What is the payload of the Beckhoff ATRO?
It depends on the configuration; the page gives no figure.
Are there external cables on the ATRO?
No. Power, data and fluids run inside the modules.
Can ATRO joints rotate endlessly?
Yes.
What controls the Beckhoff ATRO?
TwinCAT, over EtherCAT.
What is in an ATRO motor module?
A servo inverter, a motor with brake and a gearbox.
Specifications are based on manufacturer information and may change.
