RBTX / Igus

I worked as an Automation Intern at Igus's RBTX division from January 2024 - September 2024. It served as my first co-op experience while at Northeastern University. Igus is a plastics engineering company, specializing in energy chain (or e-chain) products for cable management, and in lubrication free bearings and bushings. RBTX is Igus' line of low-cost automation robotics that are comprised of Igus E-Chain systems and Igus motors, actuators, bearings, and extrusion. While working for Igus I had a wide range of responsibilities, ranging from overseeing automation system orders to working with the team to build up a brand new robotics campus in east Providence. Below is an overview of these projects: 

Robocells

One of my main responsibilities for Igus was the designing and assembly of robocells, which were self contained automation systems that utilized RBTX products. Above is the Kolver Screwdriving Gantry system, which I designed and assembled as a tradeshow robocell. This automation system combined an RBTX RG-0012 gantry with a Kolver automatic screwdriving system to showcase screw driving applications to customers. Below you can see a video of the system in action.

I also created several designs and created documentation for standardized robocells, for Igus' gantry and delta systems for easy on-demand ordering for customers.

In May 2024, the RBTX team moved to a new robotics campus in East Providence. I assisted with the team's movement, and assembled and set up lots of new machine cells to act as a sales showcase area.

One of my last projects for Igus was an automation cell for GSK, featuring a mitsubishi robot with a custom end effector to shake vials with up to 6G's of force. You can read about it more here, and see a photo of the final design below.

Sales Engineering

I did a lot of sales engineering while at Igus. This included setting up tradeshow demo units, attending tradeshows and networking with potential customers, and virtual and in-person troubleshooting visits to assist customers with Igus products. Some non-pictured achievements include:

• Troubleshooting Igus D1 motor driver, assisting with MODBUS and TCP/IP protocol integration

• Troubleshooting Igus REBEL Cobot, identifying faulty joint hardware and code errors

• Troubleshooting Igus Gantries, Deltas, and Linear Actuators, including a trip to CT to re-tension a belt-driven actuator

• Attended 3 tradeshows

• Conducted meetings in the sales showcase area to potential customers

"Test Before You Invest"

Igus employed a "Test Before You Invest" policy - I would conduct tests with Igus products for customers free of charge to demonstrate the capabilities of our products. Some of these customer tests are below.