Use compact industrial robots to make any shop more productive
evolve. The control tablet further allows the user to refine and correct movements as needed during production activity. These types of robotic arms with simplified control programming provide an off-the- shelf foundation for industrial automation solutions, serving as the position manipulator for an end-effector mechanism appropriate for the task to be performed. Such end- effector mechanisms can range from simple grippers for pickup, position, and place operations, to machine tools such as screwdrivers and drills, to complex systems such as soldering irons and paint sprayers. The target application will dictate what end-effectors and system integration efforts are needed to create a full solution. End-effector mechanisms designed for many common operations are available from robotic arm vendors as well as third-party system integrators. For picking up and manipulating objects, for instance, there are grippers with jaws, two or three fingers, and magnetic or vacuum pickup mechanisms available from a host of different vendors. Drills, screwdrivers, grinders, and blades for fabrication and assembly applications can also be found.
Complete application solutions are even becoming available as stock solutions from robotic arm vendors. KUKA Robotics, for example, offers a series of "ready2 use" systems for riveting, paint spraying, arc or spot welding, and micro-screw fastening applications, among others (Figure 5). These systems include end-effector system elements, controller elements, and system software along with the robotic arm as a pre-configured automation package.
The painting package, for instance, was developed in
conjunction with mechanical and plant engineering firm Dürr Group and is based on the AGILUS KR 10. It includes the atomizer, pump, and color changer for high and low pressure, one or two component, water or solvent-based paint applications. The Dürr EcoAUC control unit regulates the painting process while the KUKA KR C4 controller handles robotic arm motion. But users are not limited to such pre-configured systems when applying compact robot technology in their operations. Because of the robotic arm's installation and movement flexibility, ease of programming, and versatile end-effector attachment flange, a wide variety of custom applications are possible. The key is to identify repetitive tasks in an existing production process that the robot can assist with or take over from human operators.
Figure 5: Compact industrial robots that are complete system solutions for common applications are now available "off-the-shelf", such as this painting system from Dürr Group and KUKA Robotics. (Image source: Dürr AG)
60
Powered by FlippingBook