Image Source: pixabay.
Robotics plays a crucial role in the field of manufacturing robot. Factories use them to perform tasks that humans cannot, with efficiency and greater security. The programmed robot decreases the rate of errors and undergoes repetitive tasks with accuracy, freeing up time for workers to perform other essential tasks.
Robots carry out countless functions. Robot manufacturers have created these autonomous robots for performing repetitive tasks with efficiency, durability and speed. The robots execute the process of moving, lifting and holding heavy objects, to name just a few.
Using automation processes in manufacturing gives an edge to companies. With the advent of manufacturing robots, companies have seen a considerable boost in productivity and efficiency, while saving cost.
There are many benefits of using automated robots in manufacturing. One great advantage of these robots is they are programmable to work continuously. Moreover, the robotic tools are highly flexible and are able to carry out many complex tasks. Robot manufacturers need to adopt automation to make a mark in this cut-throat market. Robotics is extremely profitable for every company, regardless of the size of it. Manufacturers who are new to this field need to understand how these robots work. Listed below are the 4 types of manufacturing robots that every robot manufacturer needs to know:
1). Articulated Robot
Articulated robots are the most opted-for robots in the industrial sector. These robots consist of rotary joints, which are called axes in the robotics jargon. They can be as simple as having a two-axe structure or being complicated with up to more than ten axes. The most common industrial robots are the robots with six axes. The axes are generally organized in chains to support one another and the construction as whole.
Articulated robots provide more degree of freedom than any other type of robot, which is why most manufacturers use them. Being flexible and having the ability to carry a great number of movements make them more versatile in the industries. Articulated robots have improved movement making it easier for them to carry objects of any size. Robot manufacturers construct these robots to undergo many tasks, including machine loading, arc welding, packaging, material handling, part transferring, and others of the like. Furthermore, many articulated robots such as FANUC R-2000ib/125L can perform a plethora tasks. Regardless of many other advanced robots that robot manufacturers are creating today, articulated robots hold their place in the industrial world.
2). Scara Robot
Scara is the abbreviation of Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arm. Consisting of a fixed arm, these robots are highly reliable with great speed and efficiency. Scara robots are economical and can perform repetitive tasks with impressive speed. These robots are smaller in size in addition to being lightweight. Robot manufacturers have made these robots to perform pick and place tasks from one place to another with swiftness. The robot’s fixed arm is powerful, which is why they can stand up to sudden tension and collision. Robot manufacturers design these automated robots to carry out additional applications such as dispensing, packaging, assembly etc.
3). Delta Robot
Also known as “spider robots” or “parallel robots”, robot manufacturers create these with a base connected to jointed parallelograms. Normally Delta robots are 3-axis units, but 4-axis and 6-axis units are also available. Factories usually use them when they require composition of a number of objects, provided that the objects are assembled or placed inside a container. Robot manufacturers have made these robots with the capability of vision technologies. The vision technologies allow the robots to identify the object’s color, size and shape. The arm of the delta robots is very lightweight, enabling it to work with more speed.
These robots are able to work with 100 components per minute. The buildup of these robots makes it easier for them to work with accuracy and speed. In the food industry, factories use delta robots to place the food from one conveyor to another, making it easier to stack the object and reduce the rate of injury by carrying out repetitive tasks which are hard for humans. A few delta robot applications are food processing, cosmetics, adhesive dispensing, assembly, soldering etc.
4). Cartesian Robots
Referred to as “gantry robots.” These are the type of industrial robots that work on three perpendicular axes-X, Y and Z. The axes are orthogonal to each other and perform harmonized motions through a motion controller. Factories keep these cartesian robots, which are ideal for limited space applications, above a workplace. These robots have the ability to move heavy objects from one place to another at long distances. Several robot manufacturers make use of these robots because of their highly accurate functions. A single controller controls most of these robots, taking out the need for multiple controllers. Cartesian robots are one of the commonly used industrial robots. Furthermore, Some would argue they are one of the best creations of robot manufacturers. Factories also use them for 3d printing, staking, CNC machine tooling, material handling, packaging automation, storing and retrieving, pick and place etc.
As a manufacturer, knowing these types of industrial robots will be highly useful. Understanding these robots will be beneficial for a robot manufacturer to choose the best robot for manufacturing. Every manufacturer who is new to this field should be aware of the basic types of robots and their applications in order to save much needed money and time.
