UR12e collaborative robot for teaching, research and laboratory automation

The Universal Robots UR12e is a versatile collaborative robot that can serve as the central component of a modern automation and robotics laboratory. Its combination of a 12.5 kg payload, 1300 mm reach and compact footprint makes it suitable for both individual teaching stations and more advanced research platforms.

Together with the UR12e robot arm, we provide a control box, a teach pendant (optionally the 3PE version), a power cable, a cable connecting the arm to the control box, and full documentation. The teach pendant comes with PolyScope software, which serves as an intuitive user interface for programming, configuring, and operating the cobot. It enables easy creation of motion sequences, program execution, tool calibration, and real-time robot monitoring.

Control Box

The control box serves as the central management module of the robot system. It is responsible for power supply, signal processing, safety functions, and communication with both the teach pendant and the robot arm. It ensures stable, efficient, and safe operation of the cobot under various environmental conditions.

Example Laboratory Exercises with UR12e:

• Pick-and-place and gripper operation
  Programming the picking, transferring, and placing of parts using electric or pneumatic grippers.

• Robot motion and coordinate system programming
  Creating motion sequences, defining work points and reference frames, and configuring the TCP.

• Vision systems and object recognition
  Locating, identifying, and sorting components based on camera data, and automatic robot position correction.

• Force control and environmental interaction
  Executing tasks requiring controlled contact, applied force, or surface-following tool guidance.

• Design and integration of complete robotic workcells
  Selecting the robot, tools, sensors, cameras, PLC, and peripherals, followed by programming, commissioning, and system performance analysis.

• Collaborative application safety
  Configuring workspace, speed, and force limits, and analyzing robot behavior in the vicinity of an operator.

• Payload and center of gravity analysis
  Assessing the impact of tool mass, part weight, and the center of gravity on robot operation.

Built-in safety technologies, including force and collision detection features, are a key component of the UR12e platform. However, in a practical setup, the ability to operate without additional safety fencing depends on the configuration of the entire system and the risk assessment performed.