BackIs ±360° really necessary?
There are usually ways to set up the cobot in order to stay within a ±175° joint range. For instance you can find the optimal mounting position of the robot. If that is not possible, you can flip over with joint 3 to reach the targeted area.
So, in many cases not really. There are cases though that require a wider range of joint 6, where the tool is connected. In order to cover such cases, AUBO decided to offer a version with ±360° joint range. This version is for all i-series models available at the same price.
Why is the ±175° version still available?
Not only is the ±175° version still available, it is also still the standard version for a reason.
The ±360° version comes without the tool I/O connector at the tool flange. Instead it has a blind cap on it (see left picture).
Many tools do not need the tool I/O connector and are connected to the control box directly. In these cases, you can proceed in the same way with both versions.
Other tools, like the Zimmer gripper shown in the picture on the right hand side, utilize the tool I/O connector and avoid needing to guide a cable along the robot arm.
If you can set up your application with the ±175° version, go with it. If there is no way around and you need the ±360° version, you can still connect the gripper with the control box and guide the cable along the robot arm.
Conclusion
The ±175° joint 6 version offers you with the tool I/O connector a convenient way to connect your gripper to the robot without the need to guide the cable along the robot. That is, if the gripper supports that AUBO feature. Only then, this version offers a big benefit compared to the ±360° version.
Many grippers, especially when an air supply is required, must be connected with a cable guided along the robot arm anyways. Such equipment will be connected in the same way with both versions.
If you don’t have a gripper compatible with the tool I/O connector and you don’t need a ±360° range of joint 6, you have the choice of either one flexibility option for the future and you can ask yourself:
Is it more likely I will one day have an application that needs a ±360° range of motion or will I utilize a gripper that can be connected to the tool I/O connector???
By the way, AUBO provides a cable with every i-series cobot for the tool I/O connector that can be connected to your custom tool.