IRB 660 Oil Levels

MikeAus
MikeAus ✭
in Robot Controller

 

Could someone please confirm the correct oil fill height for axes 1-3 on IRB660?

 

I’ve only done capital works and had to help one of our experienced technicians with a full service on an old IRB660. (His background is with other robot manufacturers, with a little bit on ABB)

He is now panicking that we may have overfilled it, and has read a few stories about the GB pressurising and blowing out the seals.

I recall 2nd person storeis about the 66xx generation 6ax blowing seals if overfilled, But:

  1. We have the most recent IRB660 manual, and I would expect ABB to have made changes to the procedure if it was incorrect.
  2. I don’t see how can overfill ax 1-3 on IRB660 due to how sight plugs work. It should be impossible to overfill as long as you account for the delay with oil viscosity.

 

The old oil levels were about

  • -7mm below on Ax 1 (-10mm)
  • -4mm on Ax 2 (-5mm limit)
  • -3mm on Ax 3 (-5mm limit)

 No signs of leaks, but would have had a few oil samples taken over that oil's lifetime.


When replacing the oil, the ambient would have been about 18 degC;  the manual states 25+/- 10 degC

We refilled oil to the sight plug on all three axes, as that is how we interpreted the ideal level. 

  • That also gives some volume to take oil samples between changes.
  • The oil level is definitely harder to sight compared to other manufacturers, filling to the sight hole was originally considered the most conservative option and would be normal on any other machine.

 

Next time, I would get a plastic “sighting tool” made to fill to -5,-2,-2mm respectively; but don’t think it's worth draining oil out in this case as within ABB specifications.

 

Has this been done correctly? Or should we drain the oil level towards the mid-point or original levels?

 

 

 


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