A Robot Can Do That?
by Brian Parkham, Senior Electrical Engineer
Robots are one of the most flexible tools in the manufacturing process and their capabilities are constantly expanding. With today’s robot technology, there is a good chance there is a robot to fit your application.
Everyone knows that robots have been assisting in the manufacturing process for many years. Generally, we see these robots in material handling applications, where parts are moved from locations. However, robot technology has greatly expanded over that past few years and the capabilities of these robots have expanded just as much. By utilizing some of these new robotic capabilities, production processes can be improved in capacity and quality, providing more value for your manufacturing investment. Here, we will review just a few of these robotic capabilities and give examples as to how they can be used in the manufacturing process.
Vision Inspection
Vision systems have played a major role in the manufacturing process and, paired with robotics, can drastically expand the capabilities of a robot. First, vision inspection can be used to inspect parts for components, defects, or tolerances. By affixing a camera to the end of a robot, multiple aspects of the part can be inspected with a single camera. To increase flexibility, a different set of inspection points can be programmed for different product models. Now all inspection points, for all production models, can be assessed with a single robot and camera system.
Vision Guidance (2D & 3D)
Secondly, vision can also be paired with robots for guidance. By utilizing cameras, fixed-mounted or attached to the end of the robot, parts can be picked, placed, or manipulated without the need for fixtures. Depending on the application, fixtures can run thousands of dollars and have to be designed specifically for the part or parts in process. In addition, if any changes occur during the life of the part, the fixture would need to be modified or replaced. With vision guidance, if the part changes, the vision program can be modified in a matter of minutes to accommodate the change- saving time, money, and headaches.
Dispensing
The next application that robotics are widely used is in dispensing. Dispensing applications can be used with various glues and sealants. The process of dispensing can also vary depending on application. For example, with a large part, the glue dispenser can be mounted to the end of the robot and the robot moves about the glue path laying products as it moves. In other applications, the glue dispenser can be fixed and the robot can move the part in front of the glue dispenser. Both of these scenarios allow for flexibility in the part models, dispense paths and number of dispensers. In many cases, allowing a robot to handle these sealants or glues keeps a human employee out of the way of harmful chemicals.
Heavy Payload
The fourth application where you may not expect robotics is in handling heavy material. FANUC currently has a 6-axis robot with a payload capable of 2,300 Kg. (That’s over 5,000 lbs.!) With a payload capacity like that, vehicle bodies, frames and entire pallets of material could be transferred from one area to another. These robots can be used in place of transfer elevators that generally require a large amount of floor space for mounting. Again, since it is a robot, program changes can be done in minutes to adjust process flow.
Collaborative Manufacturing
The fifth application of robotics is a relatively new aspect to industrial robotics. Collaborative robotics is the field of robots working with humans. A robot can be considered collaborative in various scenarios. One example is a standard robot is pared with safety devices. When an operator nears the robot, it will slow and stop. Once the operator is clear, the robot will resume normal operation. In another example, the robot is specifically designed for collaborative applications. By using force- and torque-limiting motors, the robot can work side by side with a human, all without the need for safety fencing. Collaborative robotic application can be very beneficial in applications that are not high-speed, too complicated for full automation, or required regular operator intervention. You can read more about collaborative robots in this blog post: 4 Types of Collaborative Robots.
In conclusion, robots can add great value to your manufacturing process. Whether it is to increase product throughput or decrease defects, robots can be utilized in almost every application. Their flexibility in both physical form and programming allows them to be used and re-used throughout changes in your manufacturing process. If you would like to know more on how robots could improve your manufacturing process, please reach out to Patti Engineering to learn more!