Robot See Robot Do
With the deployment of a robotic arm, you unlock a world of possibilities. These versatile machines are the future of manufacturing, capable of handling a wide range of tasks with unmatched precision. They tirelessly work around the clock, reducing errors and boosting productivity, all while enhancing workplace safety by taking on the repetitive and hazardous tasks. Embrace innovation, reduce costs, and elevate your products to new heights. It's time to embrace the future of manufacturing with the power of robotics at your fingertips. Transform your factory into a cutting-edge facility and watch your production soar.
SCARA: Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arm
A SCARA Robot is a type of industrial robot designed for high-speed, precise, and repeatable tasks. Its characteristic features include a parallel-axis joint structure, typically with two parallel rotary joints for horizontal movement and a prismatic joint for vertical movement. SCARA robots are commonly used in applications light to moderate applications due to their construction.
Figure 1: SCARA Robot with depiction of each Axis of motion.
6-Axis Robot Arm:
When people think of robot arms, they generally associate them with 6-Axis Degrees of Freedom (DOF) robot arm. It is a type of industrial robot that has six rotational joints, each providing a different degree of freedom in terms of movement. These robots are highly versatile and capable of precise and complex movements in all six spatial directions. The six axes of movement include your X, Y, and Z movements, but in addition, it also incorporates rotation about each of the axis - Pitch, Roll, and Yaw. Unlike SCARAs, the selection of these robots varies drastically in payload and reach. Some of these robots can pick up 1000lbs!
Figure 2: 6 Axis Robot in a manufacturing line
Collaborative Robot (Cobot):
It is a type of industrial robot designed to work alongside humans in a shared workspace safely and efficiently. Unlike traditional industrial robots that are usually kept in cages or isolated areas to ensure human safety, cobots are specifically built to interact with human workers without posing a significant risk. They are designed with several key features that make collaboration possible. Some of these features include Reduce Speed and Force through specialized algorithms, soft exteriors such as rubber, and light build. They also tend to be fairly easy to program. Despite claims that these robots don’t need guarding or additional safety features, be sure to understand your region’s safety requirements and perform a proper risk assessment as with any other industrial equipment!
Figure 3: Two collaborative robots in a stopped position.
Cartesian Robots:
Also known as a gantry robot or linear robot, cartesian robots are a type of industrial robots designed to move in a three-dimensional, rectilinear coordinate system. It typically consists of a framework with linear guides and a tool or end effector that moves along these guides in a straight-line motion. Cartesian robots are known for their precise and straightforward movements in the X, Y, and Z axes, and they can perform tasks such as material handling, assembly, pick-and-place operations, and more. CNC Mills and 3D printers are common applications of Cartesian Robots. In some configurations, the X and Y are linked together, and the Z axis is independent similar to a CNC. In some 3D printers and dispensers, the Z axis is linked with either the X and Y axis, and the remaining axis is independent.
Figure 4: Cartesian Robot Used in UV Application
Spider Robots: Commonly referred to as delta/parallel robots. They are a type of high-speed, high-precision robot designed for applications that require rapid and precise pick-and-place or assembly tasks. They are characterized by a unique kinematic structure that consists of three arms connected to a common base in a triangular or pyramid shape. These robots are ceiling mounted to maximize their reach. Due to their construction, they tend to only have 3 degrees of freedom which means limited rotation capability.
Figure 5: Delta Robot with suction cup EOAT.
Robots can further be enhanced by incorporating additional hardware. This hardware can range from simple to very complex. The most common hardware that is added to robotic arms is End-of-Arm-Tooling (EOAT). Pneumatic cylinders, motorized grippers, or even pneumatic paint sprayers and welding torches can be used as EOATs. This is going to vary widely depending on your application. As with each application, make sure the robot is suitable for the environment and materials it is going to come into contact with.
Figure 6: Welding Robot
If there is generally unknow variation in your processes, robots will need additional help to be incorporated into your operations. Vision systems can bridge these gap by giving eyes to your robots. Through advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms, vision systems can transfer information to your robot to help guide them to the right location. The setup can be either static or dynamic. In static vision guided applications, the camera takes a single picture after all motion has ceased. The camera then communicates to your robot to give it precise coordinates - Sometimes X, Y, and even Z with 3D Vision! In dynamic applications, the camera is continuously taking images and processing them at a fast rate. This particular application is helpful for conveyor pick and place. In another article, we will dive into how vision is further incorporated into aspects of mobile robotics - Your robots can now see and do!
If you have any questions about integrating robots into your manufacturing lines, contact us!
contact@jjcautomation.com
