‘ChocoMatic’ comes to life with igus 7th axis

Plug-and-play linear motion is transforming compact robots into multi-tasking systems, and nowhere is this more evident than in Belgium-based Roose Automation’s ChocoMatic — a robot that picks and delivers chocolates with speed and precision. When customers tap a screen to select their favourites, the robot arm glides along a linear track, collecting each chocolate and presenting it without human intervention.

Behind this playful and hygienic automation lies a clever piece of engineering — the 7th axis from igus which is available in the UK from Birmingham-based subsidiary igus UK.

Roose Automation faced a challenge when it found that a standard six-axis robot couldn’t cover the full range of dispensers inside the compact vending unit,and adding a linear axis typically means weeks of programming. However, the ready-to-install 7th axis from igus changed that equation — it quadruples the robot’s working range and connects directly to its controller through the company’s ‘plug-to-program’ interface.

Adam Sanjurgo, automation product manager at igus, said: “In projects like ChocoMatic, it is about simplicity. You install it, the controller recognises it, and it just works.”

Flawless operation and increased productivity
Mounted beneath the robot, the igus axis provides precise horizontal movement across multiple trays, powered by a toothed-belt drive that achieves speeds of up to 0.6m/sec with ±0.3mm positioning accuracy. Integration proved seamless for Roose Automation which linked the axis directly into the robot’s control software — no extra coding, no complex interface design. The result was weeks saved in development time and thousands of pounds in programming costs, all while delivering flawless operation and increased productivity.

The success of ChocoMatic transcends chocolate — it demonstrates how modular automation can unlock new possibilities for SMEs in any sector. The igus linear axis enables a single robot to serve multiple machines, workstations or products without sacrificing precision or control. Each axis supports robots up to 55kg, runs on a lightweight aluminium rail up to 6m long, and incorporates lubrication-free polymer bushings and e-chains for cable protection.

Now compatible with the latest robot models, including Universal Robots UR 20, UR 30 and Fanuc CRX, the 7th axis is making long-reach automation faster and easier for all end users. Mr Sanjurgo concluded: “The ChocoMatic shows how our plug-to-program technology can help any company, not just in manufacturing. Expanding a robot’s range used to mean extra engineering, but now it is as easy as ‘plug, play and produce’.”