Applications of Robots

Applications of Robots

Applications of Robots - The first industrial robots were installed to replace people in dangerous operations, such as loading and unloading hot parts from processing furnaces, or in hazardous environments, for example, when workers were subjected to long exposures of toxic materials. Today, however, industrial robots are primarily installed to improve productivity in manufacturing, operations.

Robots are ideally suited to parts handling and assembly operations in hostile, unpleasant, or unilluminated environments. Some industrial robots can automatically position parts to an accuracy of +- 0.13 mm, although a more universal positioning standard of accuracy is in the order of 1.27 mm.

Factors for selecting an application for a robot are:

1. Speed of movement.

2. Weight of workpiece.

3. Accuracy to which a workpiece can be positioned.

4. Manipulative ability.

5. Effectiveness with which the robot employs its memory capacity.

The selection criteria ate based upon:

1. Whether the process orients the part to aid in pickup by the robot.

2. Non uniformity of the workpiece or other characteristics that make the process unsuitable for automation.

3. Whether the workpiece is difficult for robot to handle, as in the case with fabric and leather.

Robot capabilities have become common place in many industries. Some robots have operated successfully over 3 million cycles. Among the Jobs they perform are

(a) Assembly Operations

Loading and unloading parts on DNC machines: lathes, chuckers, drilling machines, broaches, grinders and multi turret machines.

(b) Material Transfer

Automotive assembly, textile, ordinance, appliance manufacturing, molded products, heat treating, paper product, plating, palletizing etc.

(c) Die Casting

Unloading, quenching, trimming, insert loading etc.

(d) Forging

Drop forge, upsetter, roll forge, presses.

(e) Stamping Presses

Load unload, press to press transfer.

(f) Welding

Spot welding, press welding, are welding.

(g) Plastic Injection and Compression Molding

Unload, trim, insert loading, palletizing, packaging.

(h) Investment Casting

Wax tree processing, dipping, manipulating, transferring.

(i) Spray Coat Applications

Mold release, under coats, finish coats, frit application, sealants.

( j ) Furnace Tending

Loading and unloading parts.

(k) Machining Operation

Drilling, deburring and grinding.