Embrace Modern Manufacturing with Industrial Robots : Start Discovering from Simple Steps!!

Abstract: 

Industrial Robots are advanced technological tools that can significantly enhance your manufacturing capabilities. The use of such machines is bound to result in greater productivity, improved reliability, and significantly reduced production costs. 

Adopting an industrial robot into your workflow can be a game-changing decision, helping you stay competitive in the rapidly evolving manufacturing landscape.

Offering a range of benefits including improved productivity and efficiency, industrial robots are playing an increasingly vital role within the manufacturing sector. Able to perform a variety of tasks with the greatest intricacy, such automated systems are of value to a range of industries. As you explore the world of industrial robotics, it’s essential that you understand the main aspects of their design and implementation.

Their versatility is shown in the handling of differently shaped and weighted objects. Making the most of this versatility, you can boost productivity and gain a competitive edge with industrial robots.

Keywords : 

Robots, Automation, Tasks of Robots, Types of Robots, Application of Robots, Design of Robots

Learning Outcomes :

After undergoing this article you will be able to understand the following

1. What is an industrial robot?

2. Typical tasks performed by industrial robots

3. Factors considered when integrating industrial robots into manufacturing processes

4. Types of industrial robots and their key features 

5. Conclusions

6. FAQs

References 

What is an industrial robot?

An industrial robot is primarily used for manufacturing processes. As vital elements within the automated system, these robots are programmable and capable of movement on three or more axes. This flexibility allows you to streamline your production line and improve overall efficiency.

You might be aware that industrial robots are often used as an alternative to humans for the completion of repetitive or dangerous tasks. The key advantage of using these machines is their impeccable precision and accuracy. Reducing the margin for error in the completion of set processes, industrial robots vary in design. However, it’s particularly common to find robotic arms operating on multiple axes.

Typical tasks performed by industrial robots include:

Picking and placing objects

Assembling components

Welding and soldering

Painting and finishing

Cutting and grinding

Industrial robots are defined by the Robot Institute of America as programmable multifunction operators for handling mechanical parts or work items. They can also be considered special mechanical devices able to perform a variety of tasks based on different programs.

Factors should be considered when integrating industrial robots into manufacturing processes:

Application: 

Identify the specific tasks you want the robot to perform and choose a suitable model.

Payload: 

Ensure the robot can handle the weight and size of the objects or components that it will be manipulating.

Speed and precision: 

Consider whether the robot can meet your production speed requirements while maintaining an acceptable level of precision.

Ease of programming: 

Look for a robot that is easy to program and reprogram according to your changing needs.

Safety: 

Assess the safety features of the robot, including collision detection and emergency stop functions.

Types of industrial robots and their key features 

In this section, we will explore the variety of industrial robots that are used across a range of industries. Each type has its own unique features and applications.

Articulated robots

Articulated robots are the most common type and resemble a human arm, which is why they are also known as robotic arms or manipulator arms. These robots typically have multiple joints or axes, allowing them a wide range of motion. They are often used in tasks such as welding, assembly, and painting.

Key features of articulated robots include:

Multiple axes of rotation

Large working envelope

High payload capacity

SCARA robots

SCARA robots, or Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arms, have a smaller workspace compared to articulated robots. 

These robots are particularly suitable for tasks such as assembly and pick-and-place operations, where high-speed and precision are required.

Characteristics of SCARA robots include:

Fast cycle times

Compact design

High repeatability

Delta robots

Delta robots are parallel architecture robots, known for their exceptional speed and precision. They usually have three arms and are mounted overhead, making them ideal for high-speed picking and packaging applications.

Delta robots have the following qualities:

Exceptional speed

Highly precise motion

Low payload capacity

Cartesian coordinate robots

Also known as gantry robots, cartesian coordinate robots perform linear movements along the x, y, and z axes. They form a cuboidal working area/envelope, and their simple design makes them suitable for tasks such as milling, drilling, and 3D printing.

These qualities are common to cartesian coordinate robots:

High accuracy

Simple and modular design

Large workspace

Spherical coordinate robots

Spherical coordinate robots (also known as polar robots) navigate with a spherical working envelope. They are usually used for tasks like injection moulding, painting, arc welding, and spot welding.

Spherical coordinate robots have these benefits:

Long reach with a suitably sized linear arm

Good coverage of the workspace

High precision

Cylindrical coordinate robots

Cylindrical coordinate robots have a cylindrical workspace, made up of linear and rotary axes. These robots are suitable for tasks such as assembly, pick-and-place, and loading/unloading operations.

Key characteristics of cylindrical coordinate robots include:

Simple mechanical design

Limited reach compared to other robots

Moderate accuracy

Serial manipulators

Serial manipulators are robots with a series of links connected by joints, allowing for a wide range of motions. They are often used in tasks such as assembly, handling, and manipulation of objects.

Common features of serial manipulators include:

High versatility

Wide range of motion

Complex control systems

Parallel architecture

Parallel architecture refers to robots with multiple links connected to the same base and end effector. This design makes for increased rigidity, accuracy, and speed when compared with serial manipulators. Some applications of parallel architecture include high-speed assembly and handling as well as flight simulation.

Parallel architecture robots have these qualities:

High rigidity

Increased accuracy and speed

Limited workspace

5. Conclusions

Market trends shaping the global industrial robotics industry include:

Smart production: this refers to the use of digital technologies, automation, and robotics for enhanced factory production, efficiency and flexibility. The International Federation of Robotics states that annual installations of industrial robots more than tripled within ten years (2010-2019), reaching 381,000 units in factories around the world.

Collaborative robots (cobots): Cobots are designed to work alongside humans in a shared workspace. Rather than replacing human workers, cobots help with tasks that require precision, strength, or endurance. They can have a positive impact on productivity and working conditions.

Increasing customisation and flexibility: Customer demands for increased personalisation and shorter product lifecycles have resulted in a need for more production process flexibility. Industrial robots can help manufacturers adjust their production lines quickly and efficiently, allowing them to cater to evolving market demands more effectively.

6. FAQs

Q. How do robotics and automation work together?

Ans.:

Automation and robotics have areas where they cross, such as the use of robots to automate physical tasks, as with car assembly lines. However, not all automation uses physical robots and not all areas of robotics are associated with automation.

Q. What is the future of robotics and automation?

Ans.:

Robots and machines with learning capabilities may have a wider range of uses in the future. Future robots would be better suited to more difficult and dynamic activities if they could learn new processes, adapt to their environment, and change their behavior. In the end, robots may raise our standard of living.

References 

1. Brooks, Rodney. "Achieving Artificial Intelligence through Building Robots." Boston: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1986.

2. Moravec, Hans. "Robots, After All." Communications of the ACM. October 2003. Vol. 46, No. 10.

3. Thrun, Sebastian. "Robotic Mapping: A Survey." CMU-CS-02-111, February 2002.