Bin picking
Bin picking with 3D vision and 3D depalletising.
A robot with 3D vision picks parts lying in a bin or on a pallet exactly as they arrived. No precise fixtures, no manual repacking and no operator at every pallet. You can see the cell in action beforehand at a free test visit.
Parts do not arrive neatly lined up. The robot copes.
Bin picking is a task in which a robot picks randomly placed parts from a bin, crate or pallet. A conventional robot needs the part in the same place every time, so parts are repacked by hand in front of it or expensive magazines and fixtures are built. Robot 3D vision removes this step: the camera scans the space, finds the part, determines its position and orientation, and the robot picks it.
We deploy our own 3D vision system for bin picking and depalletising, developed at our engineering partner's research centre and including a patented module for real-time 3D spatial processing. It combines cameras with laser triangulation, creates the part model by scanning a real part or from a 3D CAD model, and plans a safe robot trajectory by itself. An automatic gripper changer lets a single cell unload several part types.
In the automotive industry, a system like this unloads large shiny parts stacked on a Euro pallet up to 1.5 metres high, recognises the layer sheets between layers by itself and checks that a pallet with the correct part type has been loaded. The whole process from loading the pallet to emptying it runs without operator intervention. Scanning, localisation, picking and placing a part take up to 7 seconds in total. On a furniture packing line, two robot stations with 3D vision depalletise components at an average cycle time of 7 seconds.
What a bin picking cell can do.
Bin picking from bins and pallets
Unloading randomly placed parts from bins, crates and pallets, including recognising and removing the layer sheets between layers.
3D vision and point cloud
Cameras and laser triangulation create a point cloud of the working area. The system finds the part in it and determines its position and orientation in 3D.
A new part within 24 hours
The model of a new part is created by scanning a real part or loading a 3D CAD model. Introducing a new part type takes up to 24 hours.
Robot trajectory planning
The system automatically calculates the picking and placing path so the robot does not collide with the bin or the other parts.
Automatic gripper change
The cell changes its own gripper according to the part type. One cell can therefore unload different parts without resetting.
Correct pallet check
Before unloading, the system checks that a pallet with the correct part type has been loaded and prevents a mix-up further down production.
What the delivery includes.
We deliver a complete working cell, not just a 3D camera.
- Free test visit and assessment of your parts
- 3D sensor, computing unit and part localisation software
- Registration of part models from a scan or from 3D CAD
- Robot, grippers and automatic gripper changer
- Trajectory planning and robot programming
- Cell safety, control panel, PLC and HMI
- Connection to conveyors, the line and the higher-level system
- Commissioning, training and service
Robots and technologies we work with
How to find out whether bin picking can handle your parts.
Photos and video
Send us photos or a video of the bin or pallet and a description of the parts. We assess shape, surface, weight and how they are stacked.
Free visit
We invite you to a test visit of a robotic cell where you will see bin picking in operation, and we go through your brief.
Concept and quote
We design the grippers, layout and cycle time and give a fixed price. For non-standard parts we verify localisation on your samples.
Delivery and start-up
Manufacture, installation, programming and on-site debugging. We hand the cell over once it reliably empties a pallet without operator intervention.
Related services.
Robotic cells
Turnkey robotic cells: design, safety, grippers, programming and commissioning.
Machine vision
2D and 3D vision inspection for quality control, OCR and DMC code reading, error-proofing and traceability.
Robot programming
New applications, offline simulation, cycle time reduction and program changes for KUKA, ABB, Fanuc and other robots.
Frequently asked questions.
Did not find your answer? Write to us and we will reply within 24 hours.
How much does a bin picking cell cost?
It depends mainly on the number of part types, their weight, the required cycle time, the grippers and the connection to the line. In our projects, a larger cell with 3D depalletising, several manipulators and part feeders has been in the range of 100 to 200 thousand euros. We give a fixed price after assessing the parts and a technical concept.
What is bin picking?
Bin picking is the automatic picking of randomly placed parts from a bin or pallet by a robot. A 3D camera scans the space, the software finds the part and determines the gripping point, and the robot picks it and places it in a precisely defined position, for example into a machine or onto a conveyor.
Can 3D vision handle shiny parts?
Yes. The combination of cameras and laser triangulation is designed so that the system has no limitations on part surface or shape. In production, for example, it reliably unloads large shiny parts from a Euro pallet.
How long does one cycle take?
Scanning, localisation, picking and placing a part take up to 7 seconds in total. The resulting cycle time also depends on the robot size, the distance to the placing position and the part weight, so we verify it in the concept.
Will it work with our robot?
The system can be deployed on all common types of industrial robot, for example KUKA, ABB, Fanuc or Stäubli. The existing robot therefore often does not need replacing; a sensor, software and a gripper are added.
How quickly can a new part type be added?
We create the model of a new part by scanning a real part or from a 3D CAD model and introduce it into the system within 24 hours. If the part has a different shape, we also check the gripper and the placing position.
Book a free test visit.
Send us photos or a video of the pallet or bin, the dimensions and weight of the parts and the required cycle time. We will get back to you within 24 hours and arrange a date for the test visit.