With all the literature out there about robots and the benefits they bring to a company, any business owner would be well advised to invest in one or more. That is, according to their needs. Looking for your first industrial robot is bound to be exciting, but the terminologies might be confusing. We will look at some of the jargon you will come across as well as explore robot for you.
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Applications
Your first stop is to learn the functions an industrial robot performs. This is important because you must know which type of robot suits you and your needs. You might want to purchase a small industrial robot that simply picks and places or one that performs heavy-duty functions. If you are not aware of the applications, you could end up going for the wrong one.
An industrial robot is built for a vast range of functions. What you must do is identify the application you need your robot for and then make your choice. Here are some of the varieties of models and their applications.
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Payload
This is the maximum load that a robot can lug in its space. You may be looking for a robot that picks a component from one machine transfer it to another. In this case, there is a need to include the weight of the part and robot gripper weight into the robot payload.
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How Many Axes?
The number of axes you want on your robot depends on the complexity of the application it is meant for. For a simple pick and place function, a four-axis robot is appropriate. If the application requires a lot of turning and twisting, you will be advised to go for a six or seven axis one. Having many axes is not necessarily a disadvantage. Should you plan to transfer the robot to a different application, you can easily do that with more axes on your robot. However, if you do not need the extra axes get the 4 axes one and avoid the need to program the two extra axes for naught.
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The Robot Reach
It is important that you know the maximum distance your robot will need to reach. Therefore, when you go robot shopping, that is one question that will come up. To get the maximum reach, you need to get the measurements. Get the vertical reach by measuring from under the robot’s base to the highest point the wrist can get to. For the horizontal reach, measure from the center of the robot’s base to the far most point the wrist can reach horizontally. Also, check different movement range. Always have in mind what functions the robot is needed for because the specifications vary depending on the tasks.
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Speed
How fast do you need your job to be completed? That will dictate the tempo you want your robot to have. The robot’s documents will indicate the minimum to a maximum speed which is between zero and the maximum. You can have your robot set to the tempo you require.
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The Weight of the Robot
The weight of the robot is important because you might be setting it up on a bench or a surface which could buckle under its weight. When building a cell for your robot, have the robot’s mass in mind.
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The Braking System
The accompanying literature will have information from the manufacturer about the braking system of your robot. The systems are different from one robot to the next. Some have brakes on all the axes while others don’t. You will need a robot that has an adequate number of brakes. There is also the inertia to consider, therefore make sure you ask for information about as well.
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Ingress Protection Rating
This depends on where your rating will be working. Different industries come with different ratings. IP rating is international. You must ascertain if yours needs protection or if a local rating is good enough for your functions.
Final Word
You are now ready to go scouting for the perfect industrial robot to suit your specific applications.