Industrial Robot
What Is Industrial Robot
An industrial robot is a robot system used for manufacturing. Industrial robots are automated, programmable and capable of movement on three or more axes. Typical applications of robots include welding, painting, assembly, disassembly, pick and place for printed circuit boards, packaging and labeling, palletizing, product inspection, and testing; all accomplished with high endurance, speed, and precision. They can assist in material handling.
Advantages of Industrial Robot
Increased productivity
Once installed, automated labor can run 24/7, non-stop at a consistent pace. Unlike humans, there’ s no need for breaks, scheduled days off, unexpected absences or legal limits to working hours.
Precision and repeatability
Industrial robots can produce more impressive throughput when compared to humans, and do so at scale and on repeat. Taking surgical robots for example, some models are being developed to operate within the confining parameters of one micron or less.
Speed
In terms of speed, industrial robots are unmatched by both humans and cobots.
Safety
Industrial robots save workers from unsafe working conditions and occupational hazards. Instead of humans, companies can recruit machines when tasks involve lifting heavy payloads, poor lighting, exposure to toxic chemicals or confined spaces.
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Types of Industrial Robot
Articulated robots
Articulated robots are the most common industrial robots. They look like a human arm, which is why they are also called robotic arm or manipulator arm. Their articulations with several degrees of freedom allow the articulated arms a wide range of movements.
Autonomous robot
An autonomous robot is a robot that acts without recourse to human control. They were the first robots in history that were programmed to "think" the way biological brains do and meant to have free will.Elmer and elsie were often labeled as tortoises because of how they were shaped and the manner in which they moved. They were capable of phototaxis which is the movement that occurs in response to light stimulus.
Cartesian coordinate robots
Cartesian robots, also called rectilinear, gantry robots, and x-y-z robots have three prismatic joints for the movement of the tool and three rotary joints for its orientation in space. To be able to move and orient the effector organ in all directions, such a robot needs 6 axes (or degrees of freedom). In a 2-dimensional environment, three axes are sufficient, two for displacement and one for orientation.
Cylindrical coordinate robots
The cylindrical coordinate robots are characterized by their rotary joint at the base and at least one prismatic joint connecting its links. They can move vertically and horizontally by sliding. The compact effector design allows the robot to reach tight work-spaces without any loss of speed.
Spherical coordinate robots
Spherical coordinate robots only have rotary joints. They are one of the first robots to have been used in industrial applications. They are commonly used for machine tending in die-casting, plastic injection and extrusion, and for welding.
Serial manipulators
Serial architectures are very common industrial robots and they are designed as a series of links connected by motor-actuated joints that extend from a base to an end-effector.
Parallel architecture
A parallel manipulator is designed so that each chain is usually short, simple and can thus be rigid against unwanted movement, compared to a serial manipulator. Errors in one chain's positioning are averaged in conjunction with the others, rather than being cumulative.
How Are Industrial Robots Used?
Manufacturing and assembly
The most common use case for industrial robotics is to manufacture goods along production assembly lines. All that’ s required is the right programming and an appropriate end effector — the tooling installed at the end of a robotic arm — for its designated task, such as constructing a product piece by piece.
Material handling
Industrial robots are well equipped to load and unload heavy materials, as well as pack and select products. By automating the processes associated with transferring parts between different pieces of equipment, tedious and hazardous tasks are taken care of without the risk of injury.
Welding
Industrial robots perform intricate welds with precision and speed. Mechanized protocols for arc and spot welding popularized, in hopes to save workers from burns and inhaling carcinogenic fumes, and has since remained commonplace in the automotive and construction industries.
Painting and coating
In industries such as automotive and aerospace, robots are used for painting and coating applications. They ensure a uniform application of paint or coating, reducing waste and improving the overall quality of the finished product.
Quality inspection
Equipped with advanced sensors and vision systems, industrial robots can be employed for quality control and inspection tasks. They are used to identify defects, measure dimensions and ensure that products meet strict quality standards.
Picking, sorting and packing
Industrial robots are utilized for packaging tasks in warehouses and distribution centers. They can efficiently pick, sort and pack products with speed and accuracy to complete order fulfillments, assisting industries like e-commerce.
Machine tending
Industrial robots are commonly brought into warehouse and factory settings to tend to other machines, such as cnc (computer numerical control) machines and conveyor belts. They can load and unload parts, change tools and perform other tasks, aiding the overall production process.
Medical and pharmaceutical manufacturing
In the medical field, robots have automated tasks like dispensing medications, handling delicate instruments and even assisting in surgery. They contribute to precision and repeatability in processes critical to patient care and safety.
These collaborative tools are programmable and multifunctional, and one of the most important components is the controller. It is the brain of the robot and is where its movements are controlled, through the computer system that will program the instructions of the tasks to be performed.
And to provide them with the precision of movements, they have installed a series of sensors that allow them to control both the space to move in a specific way, as well as pressure sensors, to perform the work of maximum precision. And all this is done thanks to robotics programming and the development of computer languages applied to this discipline, such as C/C++, which has resulted in a very broad field of robotic software.
The aim is that these machines can do all kinds of tasks in the industrial sector, such as drilling and cutting, which requires great precision and speed, this type of cutting can be done with a laser to cut thick materials without wearing out the blade, they can also weld and melt, pack and palletize, handle and transport goods in warehouses, and even monitor the quality of processes. Although the most commonly used manufacturing robot is the robotic arm, controlled by a computer (controller), these can be adapted according to the type of activity they are going to perform, thanks to the part called end effector, or end-of-arm tool, i.e. the tool that executes the activity, and which varies according to the task for the specific task to be performed.
The most common robots in the industry are manipulators. They are characterized by having a structure in the form of an articulated arm (SCARA) with up to 6 axes or joints, which gives them great mobility to perform tasks such as assembling and welding parts, painting, packaging, and palletizing, among many others. In addition, they can be Cartesian, if they move in the 3 axes (X,Y,Z) or if they have wheels to move in different directions they are considered mobile robots. The latter is very useful for transporting materials or products both in the production sector and in the logistics sector.
In addition, industrial robots can be collaborative, i.e., they are those designed to work together with people and collaborate in the tasks of the operators. These are highly evolved robots since they are equipped with sensors and cameras that allow them to detect the presence of operators in order to adapt their movements and avoid any type of accident. Robots can also be autonomous, they are also very advanced and are equipped with cameras, sensors and navigation systems that allow them to move and perform tasks autonomously and do not need human supervision.
The controller:The controller is essentially the robot's brain. It's a specialized computer that communicates with the robot and tells it what to do. This is the link between the human operator and the robot. The controller comprises both hardware and software components to handle varying tasks, from motion control to data processing.
The robotic arm:The robotic arm is a key part of any Industrial robot system. The robot arm mimics the movements of a human arm and consists of three main parts: the base, shoulder, and forearm. These parts feature joints and electric motors to control their movement, providing flexibility and precision. Each joint provides the Industrial robot with a specific degree of freedom. For example, the shoulder moves up and down, the elbow forward and backwards, and the wrist allows the end effector (essentially the robot's hand) to grab and manipulate objects.
The end-effector:Also known as end-of-arm tools, end-effectors are the hands of robots. End-effectors come in various types, depending on the application. Some robots have multiple end-effectors that can be swapped as needed depending on the task at hand. Two common end-effectors are grippers and tooling. Manufacturers often create custom end-effectors to meet specific needs. For example, in the automotive industry, robots use end-effectors designed to handle parts like doors, seats, or engines during assembly.
The sensors:The sensors are basically the robot's senses, and they play an important role in how these robots operate. They provide vital information about the robot's surroundings, allowing it to make real-time decisions. The most common types are vision systems and microphones, which act as the robot's eyes and ears.
The drive:The drive system is what powers the robot's movements. It provides the force and motion needed to move the robot's parts. There are three main types of drive systems: hydraulic, electric, and pneumatic. The choice between these drive systems depends on the specific needs of the robot and the tasks it's designed for.
Performance Specifications of Industrial Robot
Number of axes or degrees of freedom
The definition of the degrees of freedom is in regard to the direction of a motion and the types of motion. The six degrees of freedom are forward or backward, up or down, left or right, yaw, pitch, and roll. Depending on a robot’ s design, it can have all six axes, with a higher number giving it greater flexibility for its robotic arm.
Load capacity
Load capacity is the weight that the robot can carry or the amount of force that the robot exerts on a load and what a robot can tolerate. Robots' load capacities vary according to the industry where they are used, with the range of capacities from 1.1 to over 2205 lbs (0.5 to 1000 kg). The specifications of load capacity are important in pick and place applications. The stated load capacity of modern robots is based on the maximum payload stated, including the need to accelerate or decelerate the payload and end effector to and from the maximum stated speeds of the robot. A close consideration of the weight of end effectors integrated into a robot serves as a guide in selecting the proper robot to fit the load capacity of an application.
Accuracy and repeatability
These are the two main characteristics determining the effectiveness of a robot in performing its tasks. Accuracy refers to the ability of a robot to position itself or its load at a specific point, which is measured by determining how close its final state is to a set state defined by the user.
Work envelope
The work envelope is the spatial specification of a robot, which is defined by its swept area, reach, and stroke. The parameters of the work envelope are important for machine loading and unloading applications. A larger robot requires a bigger work envelope that necessitates greater space, which must be determined prior to installation. The function of the work envelope is to control and define the area a robotic arm may reach, which is important for creating safe zones for workers in the area of the robot. Understanding the work envelope is essential since everything a robot does is associated with its work envelope.
Maximum speed and acceleration
Speed and acceleration directly influence the design operating speed and throughput of a robot. These properties depend on the kinematic design of the arm and power ratings of the robotic system's driver, actuators, and transmission components. Although increasing speed may seem to be the ideal condition for improving efficiency, time is involved in speeding up a robot and slowing it down, affecting efficiency. Sudden changes in speed or high acceleration can exert forces on a robot that can compromise its structure, containment, or quality.
Controller specifications
Every robot is supplied with its own controller, designed to operate it and allow programming of its positions, speeds, and clamping or unclamping grippers. Different brands of robots have different programming methods. Some controllers offer "teach through" programming where you use a ‘teach pendant’ to jog the robot to the various positions, ‘record’ that position, and use it in the program.
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Dalian Polyfull Intelligence Technology Co.,Ltd. is a professional machine tool manufacturing enterprise, the main products include lathe, milling machine, grinding machine, etc., and according to customer needs we also can design and manufacture various special purpose machines, to provide relative technology upgrading and transformation services in machine tool field. Meanwhile we are a company that produces automated robots. We can design,develop, install, test, debug industrial robot, it’s units and related accessories including fixture transmission device, positioning device and control system. We can provide welding robot, slicing robot,painting robot,assemble robot，burnishing robot，handing robot，inspect robot，arc welding robot and so on. We have provided many references for the automation industry in China.
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