At IMTS 2026, Productive Robotics set a new technical benchmark with the introduction of OB7-AI. The new addition gives job shops and contract manufacturers the capability to shave additional time from their CNC machine tending tasks.
SANTA BARBARA, California (October 1, 2026) Cobots are moving from execution-based programming to adaptive partners with the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the growing use of no-code interfaces. For more than a decade, Productive Robotics has dominated the market with its’ 7-axis OB7 collaborative robots engineered with the company’s zero-programming, teach-by-touch technology. At IMTS 2026, Productive Robotics set a new technical benchmark with the introduction of OB7-AI. The new addition gives job shops and contract manufacturers the capability to shave additional time from their CNC machine tending tasks.
“Our collaborative robots and robotic welding systems operate in nearly every industry including small to mid-sized enterprises that run high-mix, low-volume parts,” says Zac Bogart, president of Productive Robotics. “Teaching OB7 is exceptionally simple and only has to be performed once per job, but it’s a task that takes time. Now operators can recoup that time because OB7-AI scans and finds its own way around a shop’s machine. And there are no AI training cycles required for new parts or tasks.”
OB7-AI automatically scans a machine’s work area to learn where everything is located. Operators don’t have to precisely place blanks on the work table for the cobot. As long as there is “finger room” between each blank, OB7-AI’s gripper can easily reach the parts. Once the cobot finds a blank, it opens the door, loads the part in the vise, closes the door and pushes the start button. To determine when a cycle is finished, OB7-AI reads the CNC screen, then opens the door, unloads the finished parts and repeats the process until the job is complete.
“The automotive and CNC machining industries are the key markets for cobots with physical AI,” says Bogart. “The difference is that our OB7-AI is designed to work on a production floor now without training. The added capability also opens the door to non-factory sectors such as laboratory research and healthcare.”
Productive Robotics LLC designs, manufactures and services its collaborative robots, robotic MIG and laser welding systems and accessories in the US. Unlike conventional cobots which rely on 6 axes, Productive Robotics’ OB7, OB7 Stretch model, MAX 8, Max 12 and MAX 16 along with its Blaze and Blaze MAX series feature a 7-axis robotic arm that provides human-like dexterity to maneuver around obstacles without the need to redesign workspaces. A proprietary, “no programming” user interface allows operators with no engineering or robotics experience to grab and move the 7-axis arm to teach it a task. OB7 and Blaze record the steps and are ready to perform in minutes. The plug-and-play machines are engineered to integrate with new or legacy equipment to boost production, handle repetitive, dangerous tasks or high-precision work in a wide range of applications. A secure web-based software dashboard makes it easy for operators to track, log and generate cobot performance reports without the need for human programming.
Visit www.productiverobotics.com or call (805) 244-9300.
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