SZGH B1500-C-4 — 4-Axis Stamping Line Handling Robot

What Is the SZGH B1500-C-4?

The SZGH B1500-C-4 is a 4-axis industrial handling robot engineered specifically for stamping press automation, with a 10 kg payload capacity, a 1,500 mm reach, and a horizontal-mount structure that allows the arm to enter from the side of the press line without obstructing overhead tooling or press ram travel, delivering consistent cycle times and measurably lower defect rates versus manual press tending.

Full Specification Table

Core Advantages

Horizontal Mount — Built for Stamping Line Geometry

The B1500-C-4 uses a horizontal mounting configuration: the robot base is bolted to a side-frame or pedestal at press-bed height, and the arm extends laterally into the press work zone from the side. This approach keeps the area above the press ram completely clear, avoids any conflict with overhead die-change equipment, and positions the arm precisely at the elevation where parts exit the die. It is the mechanically correct architecture for press tending — not a generic robot force-fitted into a stamping cell.

1,500 mm Reach — One Robot, Two Presses

The 1,500 mm arm span allows a single B1500-C-4 to service two stamping presses arranged side by side when press centres are spaced 1,200–1,400 mm apart. In a three-press line, two B1500-C-4 robots can cover all three machines (one robot per two-press zone plus one shared handoff), reducing headcount requirements dramatically. This geometry-driven productivity gain is the primary ROI driver for this model.

4-Axis Structure — The Right Architecture for Press Tending

Press tending does not require Axes 5 and 6. A stamped part needs to be lifted out of the die, rotated to the outfeed orientation (handled by Axis 4 at 400°/sec), and placed on a conveyor or stack. Four axes execute this motion precisely. Eliminating the wrist joint assembly reduces component count, lowers the purchase price, shortens maintenance intervals, and decreases the number of axes that the controller must interpolate — all of which translate directly to faster cycle times and lower total cost of ownership.

Axis 4 at 400°/sec — No Compromise on Cycle Rate

Axis 4 runs at 400°/sec — the wrist rotation axis that reorients the part between pick and place. On a press running at 20 strokes per minute (3-second stroke interval), the robot must complete its full cycle — enter die zone, grip part, retract, rotate, place, return — within the available window. The 400°/sec Axis 4 speed ensures the reorientation phase consumes less than 0.3 seconds for a 120° rotation, leaving maximum time for the translational moves.

±0.2 mm Repeatability — Stamping-Grade Precision Without Welding-Grade Cost

Stamping press tending requires the gripper to reliably engage the part and place it accurately enough to stack or convey without jamming. The ±0.2 mm repeatability of the B1500-C-4 is an order of magnitude tighter than the dimensional tolerance of typical stamped parts (±0.5 mm and above). Reaching for the ±0.05 mm specification of a welding robot adds cost with no measurable quality improvement in a press tending application.

Application Scenarios

B Series Internal Comparison — Which Model Is Right for You?

Selection guide: If payload ≤6 kg or ceiling mount is required → G1000-B-4. If payload 7–10 kg and primary application is stamping press tending with a lateral work zone → B1500-C-4. If parts exceed 10 kg or three or more presses require servicing with a single robot → B1850-3C-4.

Customer Case Study

By Fannie Chen, CEO, Shenzhen Guanhong Automation Co., Ltd. (SZGH)

"A project I point to whenever customers ask whether a 4-axis robot is really enough for a serious stamping line is a deployment we completed for an automotive stamping supplier in Istanbul, Turkey. The facility manufactured structural brackets and seat-frame components for Tier-1 automotive buyers, and had three stamping presses arranged in a row, each serviced by one operator. The presses ran at a cadence that left operators little recovery time between cycles — fatigue-related slow-downs were measurable, and output consistency suffered accordingly.

We installed two B1500-C-4 robots in a horizontal mount configuration along the line — one robot positioned to cover presses 1 and 2, the second positioned at press 3 with a handoff conveyor interface. The 1,500 mm reach was the enabling factor: with press centres at roughly 1,300 mm, one robot arm could swing from the outfeed of press 1 to the infeed conveyor beside press 2 within a single program cycle. In practice, one robot replaced the work of two operators.

The result that surprised even the customer was the defect reduction. Before automation, the deformation reject rate on certain thin-gauge parts ran at 3.2%. After deployment, it dropped to 0.4%. The root cause analysis showed that the defects had been caused by inconsistent grip force when workers extracted parts by hand — slight variations in wrist angle and pull-back speed were deforming parts before they reached the inspection station. The B1500-C-4 applies the same programmed extraction trajectory every cycle, every hour, every shift.

Three operators were redeployed: two to the visual inspection station downstream, one to a new secondary machining cell that the customer had been unable to staff. The robot integration paid back its capital cost in eleven months."

Control System & Compatible Equipment

The SZGH B1500-C-4 ships with the SZGH proprietary 4-axis robot controller, featuring:

• Teach pendant with colour touchscreen and one-click point teaching

• I/O interface: Standard 16 DI / 16 DO digital I/O; expandable

• Communication: RS-232, RS-485, Ethernet (Modbus TCP / PROFINET optional)

• Press synchronisation: Hardware input for press-stroke signal (cam switch or proximity sensor); robot motion gated on press position for safety-critical entry

• Programming language: SZGH Robot Language (compatible with common ladder-logic style instruction set); supports IF/WHILE/FOR loops, subroutine calls

• Safety: Hardware E-stop, software joint limits, press-entry interlock, speed reduction zone programming

• Power supply: 3-phase 380 V AC, 50/60 Hz

Recommended end-of-arm tooling:

• Magnetic grippers (for ferrous stampings — most common on automotive stamping lines)

• Vacuum cup assemblies (single or multi-cup, for sheet-metal blanks and panels)

• Custom tooling integration supported (bolt pattern and flange drawing provided on request)

Compatible upstream/downstream equipment:

• Stamping press controllers (cam-switch or encoder synchronisation signal)

• Roller / slat / belt conveyors (infeed and outfeed)

• Part presence sensors / die protection systems

• Safety light curtains and area scanners (wired to robot controller safety I/O)

• Vision systems for part orientation confirmation (third-party; Ethernet trigger supported)

Certifications & Warranty

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Why use a 4-axis robot instead of a 6-axis robot on a stamping press line?

Stamping press tending is a point-A-to-point-B material handling task. The part is extracted from the die, rotated to match the outfeed orientation (covered by Axis 4), and placed on a conveyor or stack. Axes 5 and 6 — the wrist-pitch and wrist-roll joints on a 6-axis robot — are not used in this workflow. A 4-axis robot executes the same task with fewer components, higher reliability, faster interpolation (fewer joints to coordinate), lower purchase price, and simpler maintenance. There is no process benefit to adding two axes that the application will never require.

Q2: What does "horizontal mount" mean for the B1500-C-4?

The horizontal mount configuration means the robot base is installed at the side of the press line, at press-bed height, with the arm extending laterally into the die work zone. This contrasts with a floor-standing robot in front of the press, which would occupy the operator walkway and obstruct die-change access. The horizontal mount keeps all overhead space clear, allows normal die maintenance procedures, and positions the arm at the optimal height for part extraction. SZGH provides a mount frame design drawing and anchor bolt specification with the order.

Q3: Can one B1500-C-4 really tend two presses?

Yes, in many configurations. The 1,500 mm reach allows the robot to swing between two adjacent press stations when press centres are spaced approximately 1,200–1,400 mm apart. The robot operates in an alternating-press cycle: while press 1 is in the pressing phase, the robot places the previously extracted part from press 1 on the outfeed conveyor, then re-enters press 2 to extract its completed part. The viability depends on press stroke timing, part weight, and placement distance — SZGH can perform a cycle-time feasibility study using your press parameters before order confirmation.

Q4: How does the B1500-C-4 synchronise with the press stroke?

The press provides a cam-switch or proximity-sensor signal indicating when the die is open and safe for robot entry. This signal is wired to the robot controller's hardware I/O as a press-stroke gate. The robot program waits for the gate signal before commanding Axis 1/2/3 to enter the die zone. If the signal is absent (press fault or E-stop), the robot holds at its safe position. This synchronisation architecture is a standard requirement for all press-tending robot installations and is fully supported by the SZGH controller.

Q5: What caused the defect rate to drop from 3.2% to 0.4% in the Turkish deployment?

The primary cause was consistency of extraction motion. Manual operators vary their grip angle, pull-back speed, and wrist orientation cycle to cycle — particularly under fatigue at the end of a shift. For thin-gauge parts, even small variations in extraction force distribution cause elastic springback deformation that manifests as a dimensional reject. The B1500-C-4 executes an identical programmed trajectory every cycle, eliminating the variability that was deforming parts during manual extraction.

Q6: What is the maximum part size the B1500-C-4 can handle?

Payload is 10 kg, which governs part weight including gripper tool weight. There is no fixed maximum part dimension — the constraint is that the part, gripper, and any attached tooling together must not exceed 10 kg, and the part must fit within the robot's reachable envelope without collision with press structure or tooling. For unusually large or asymmetric parts, SZGH recommends a 3D envelope simulation before order. Contact us with part dimensions and weight for a quick feasibility check.

Q7: Is the B1500-C-4 suitable for multi-station progressive die lines?

Yes, with a linear track extension. In a progressive die line where the part moves through multiple stations in one press stroke, the robot typically operates at the exit station to extract finished parts. If the exit station is accessible within the 1,500 mm reach and the extraction direction aligns with the horizontal mount geometry, the standard B1500-C-4 configuration works directly. For wide-bed progressive dies or inter-press transfer between sequential press stations, a linear track extension (optional accessory) increases the effective reach and allows the robot to service multiple extraction points along the line.

Q8: Does SZGH offer a complete stamping automation package including conveyors and safety guarding?

SZGH provides the robot and controller as the core system. We work with established integrators and have a network of agents in key markets (USA, Turkey, Romania, Russia, Egypt, Thailand, Mexico) who can scope a complete cell including conveyors, safety guarding, die protection, and electrical cabinet integration. For customers who prefer to manage the integration themselves, SZGH provides full mechanical and electrical documentation, I/O lists, and communication protocol specifications to support third-party integration.

Get a Quote

Contact our export team for pricing, lead time, and application consultation. We typically respond within 4 business hours.

Contact Information

When you contact us, please share: part weight, press stroke rate (strokes per minute), number of presses to be tended, press centre spacing, and current extraction method. This allows us to confirm suitability and provide an accurate quote.

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