W7 / 7-AXIS INDUSTRIAL ROBOT
W7
Seven Axes, More Ways to Reach the Work
Catfish's own seven-axis industrial robot, the common arm in every Catfish system.
OVERVIEW
Catfish's Own 7-Axis Industrial Robot
Designed and built by Catfish Vanguard as the common arm in ARC-R, ARC-R Dual and ARC-X. A six-axis robot can reach a given tool pose through only a limited set of arm configurations. The seventh joint adds kinematic redundancy, giving the controller additional posture freedom while holding the same tool pose.
ARCHITECTURE
Reach Is Only Half the Equation
Seven joints, one redundant: the elbow moves around frames and fixtures while the torch holds its position and angle.
JOINT 03 / ELBOW
END TOOLS
Eight End Tools, One Arm
Change the tool and the same W7 platform moves from handling to welding, machining, finishing, dispensing and inspection.
01Handling
Parallel Gripper
Two mechanical jaws close on the part to pick, place, load and position components. Used to feed fixtures, unload finished work and hold parts during assembly.
- Machine loading
- Part positioning
- Fixture feeding
INTEGRATION
Motion and Integration on ARC Systems
W7 rarely works alone. Control X coordinates it with rails, lifts, positioners and gantries as one machine.
PLATFORM AND INSTALLATION
Standard on Every W7, Configured for Your Cell
Every W7 shares the same architecture. Configuration and application performance are set on your parts and confirmed at acceptance.
Standard on every W7
Axes
Seven controlled axes, kinematically redundant
Controller
Catfish Control X over EtherCAT
Coordination
External axes and multi-robot operation
Welding
GMAW (MIG/MAG) and FCAW integration
End tools
Multi-process tooling with configurable tool changing
Mounting
Floor, wall, inverted and rail
Plant protocols
EtherNet/IP, PROFINET and OPC UA
Configured for your cell
Robot and external-axis configuration for your parts
Cell layout and fixturing
Process parameters to your approved WPS
Installation-specific industrial safety architecture
Application performance confirmed against agreed acceptance criteria
SPECIFICATIONS
W7 Spec Sheet
7-Axis Industrial Robot
- 7
- Controlled axes
- Configurable
- Tool ecosystem
- Native
- External-axis coordination
- One
- Platform across ARC
- Robot type
- Industrial articulated robot
- Architecture
- Serial articulated robotic arm
- Axes
- 7 (kinematically redundant)
- Mounting
- Floor, wall, inverted, rail
- Installation
- ARC system or engineered integration
- Primary applications
- Welding, handling, machining, finishing, dispensing, inspection
- Robot type
- Industrial articulated robot
- Architecture
- Serial articulated robotic arm
- Axes
- 7 (kinematically redundant)
- Mounting
- Floor, wall, inverted, rail
- Installation
- ARC system or engineered integration
- Primary applications
- Welding, handling, machining, finishing, dispensing, inspection
- Controller
- Catfish Control X
- Motion bus
- EtherCAT
- Redundancy resolution
- Holds torch position and angle while the elbow repositions
- External axes
- Coordinated rails, positioners, gantries
- Multi-robot coordination
- Supported
- Welding process integration
- GMAW (MIG/MAG) platform support; FCAW
- Tool interface
- Multi-process end-effector architecture
- Automatic tool changing
- Configurable
- Seam sensing
- Supported / configuration dependent
- Sensing
- Native 3D vision and laser seam-sensor interface
- Vision integration
- Supported
- Process monitoring
- Supported
- Tool ecosystem
- Configurable tool ecosystem
- Tools
- MIG/GMAW welding torch, Parallel mechanical gripper, Vacuum gripper array, Drilling/machining spindle, Grinding/surface-finishing tool, 3D vision/laser scanner, Sealant/adhesive dispensing tool, Touch probe/metrology tool, Sanding/polishing tooling, Fastening/torque tooling
- Offline programming
- Supported
- Digital twin
- Supported
- CAD-based programming
- Supported
- Production traceability
- Supported
- Programming
- Catfish Studio offline programming and simulation
- CAD import
- STEP, IGES, Parasolid
- Plant protocols
- EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, OPC UA
- Safety architecture
- Installation-specific industrial safety architecture
- Safety elements
- Emergency-stop circuits, safety-rated interlocks, safety PLC, perimeter guarding, access gates, area scanners, light curtains, machine-state monitoring, controlled zones, status towers, safe-stop functions
- Safety functions
- Safety-rated functions are implemented through the installation-specific industrial safety architecture.
- Real-time loop
- Cloud is never in the real-time loop
Specifications are engineering targets for current Catfish systems and are confirmed per installation at acceptance. Product notice
THE PLATFORM
Related Systems
TALK TO US
Put W7 on Your Production
Share a part drawing and we'll show where the seventh axis changes the reach.