What is Industrial Robot
Industrial robots are automated, programmable and be inclined to move on three or more axis based on the purpose of application. There are major seven Different Types of Industrial Robots used in manufacturing industry. Depending on its application Industrial robot have a specific type of action, correlation measure, control law, software and accessory packages. Where as Different types of industrial robots has different joint configuration and certain elements that make them appropriate for different applications. The major factor among them for classification are their speed, size and workspace.
Different Types of Industrial Robots
i) Cartesian Robots
Cartesian robots have three linear joints that use the Cartesian coordinate system (X, Y, and Z) and are at right angles to each other.The three sliding joints correspond to moving the wrist up-down, in-out, back-forth thus allow for rotational movement. The three prismatic joints deliver a linear motion along the axis. These are also called Gantry robots.
Example- They are used for different Application such as
- Pick and place operations
- Loading and unloading
- Material handling
- Plotter
- Assembly and sub-assembly
- Nuclear material handling
- Adhesive applications
ii)Cylindrical Robots
The robot has one rise up joint at the fixed frame, one cylindrical joint about the axis of rotation and one prismatic joint in the arm of the controller to connect the links. The revolving joint uses a rotational motion along the joint axis, while the prismatic joint moves in a linear motion. Cylindrical robots operate within a cylindrical-shaped work envelope or form a cylindrical coordinate system.
Example- They are used for different Application such as
- Transport of LCD panels
- Assembly applications
- Coating applications
- Foundry and forging application
- Machine loading and unloading
- Handling at machine tools
- Handling at die-casting machines
- Spot welding
iii) SCARA Robots
They are flexible in the X-Y axis but rigid in the Z-axis. This gives them some flexibility which is particularly useful for assembly applications which require consent— e.g. inserting a peg in a hole. Commonly used in assembly applications, this particularly flexible arm for robotic assembly is mainly cylindrical in design.
Example- They are used for different Application such as
- Assembly applications
- Semiconductor wafers handling
- Biomed applications
- Packaging
- Palletizing
- Machine loading
- pick-and-place or assembly operations where high speed and high accuracy is required.
- Screw tightening work
- Process-to-process transfer of heavy workpieces
- Finished product function test
- Developed software evaluation
- Push button type quality check
- Replacing wafer mask from the stocker
- Tall workpieces stacked by utilizing long Z axis
- Laser Engraving
- material handling operations
- 3D Printing
iv) Delta Robots
These spider-like robots is a parallel robot consists of three arms connected to universal joints at the base. The parallelograms move in a dome-shaped work area.
Example- They are used for different Application such as
- Food industry
- Pharmaceutical industry
- Electronic industry
- Flight simulators
- Automobile simulators
- Optical fiber alignment
- They are used in picking products in groups and placing them in a storage or in an assembly pattern.
- It is found in basically any operation that needs the ability to procure highly fast speeds and quickening with light payloads.
v) Polar Robots
It consists of a spinning base, an altitude pivot, a telescoping extent, and a reversal bang also called spherical robots. In this structure the arm is connected to the base with a spiral joint and a fusion of two rotary joints and one linear joint. The axes form a polar coordinate system and create a spherical-shaped work envelope.
Example- They are used for different Application such as
- Die casting
- Glass handling
- Stacking and unstacking
- Injection molding
- Forging
- Welding
- Material handling
- Used for simple tasks and handling of machine tools.
- Clean the rough edges of (a metal casting or a piece of pottery) before firing.
vi) Articulated Robots
This robot design appearances as rotary joints and can range from simple two joint structures to 10 or more joints. The arm is connected to the base with a spin joint. The links in the arm are connected by rotary joints. Each joint is called an axis and serve a extra range of motion.
Example- Used for numerous Applications such as
- Food packaging
- Sealing
- Picking
- Painting
- Spraying
- Arc welding
- Spot welding
- Material handling
- Machine tending
- Automotive assembly
- Steel bridge manufacturing
- Steel cutting
- Glass handling
- Foundry and forging application
vii)Collaborative Robots
Collaborative Robots or Cobots are robots that can directly and safely interact with humans in a shared workspace or where humans and robots are in close proximity or work with hand-in-hand.
They are typically used for pick and place, palletizing, quality inspection, and machine tending. Cobots are cost-effective, safe, and flexible to deploy. These types of robots are making automation easier than ever, even for small and mid-sized companies around the world. Their small size and dexterous movement mean they make great assistants for tasks with small parts or intricate placement . Examples of collaborative robots are: Rethink Robotics Sawyer & Baxter, Universal Robots UR3, UR5 & UR10 ,ABB Yumi.
Example- Used for numerous Applications such as
- Pick and Place
- Packaging and Palletizing
- Process Tasks
- Quality Inspection
- Machine Tending
- Welding
- Assembling items
- Handling materials
- Polishing
- Screw Driving
- Lab Analysis and Testing
- Gluing and Dispensing
Leading Company which are providing Different Types of Industrial Robots in manufacturing industry
The first industrial robot was created by George Devol in 1954. This robot was efficient of dispatch objects inside a dozen feet range. Devon founded a company called Unimation in 1956 to manufacture the robot.
There are many companies which are providing robots in manufacturing industries namely
1)Adept Technology GmbH – is a global, leading provider of intelligent robots.
2)Denso Robotics Europe – is a market leader in small industrial robots.
3)PAL Robotics – a leading company that develops humanoid and service robots .
4)Robotnik Automation – is a company specialized in robot product development and robotics R&D projects.
5)Stäubli Faverges SCA – is a global provider with three dedicated activities: Connectors, Robotics and Textile.
6)ABB(ASEA Brown Boveri) – operating mainly in robotics and automation technology areas.
7)Fanuc robotics – provide automation products and services such as robotics and computer numerical control wireless systems.
8)Yaskawa – delivers high-quality industrial robots and fully-integrated robotic automation systems .
9)Kuka – is a German manufacturer of industrial robots and solutions for factory automation.
Conclusion
Nowadays unlimited manufacturers utilise industrial robots because of technological advancements , for smooth running operation, automate tasks process, enhance worker safety, and increase overall production output while reducing waste and operating costs. Knowledge about different types of industrial robots available will help better to select the best robots and making a primed decision. When designers are making the decision to implement any type of industrial robots in their processes, they need to consider load, orientation, speed, travel, precision, environment and duty cycle. Determining these point will move towards direct link to the related robot type that will give them the most efficient and effective results in their industry. You can also follow Manufacturer’s Guide to Robotics .
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