Millions of industrial robots are active in Industry 4.0 factories around the world. They are used to increase production rates, improve quality, reduce costs, and support more flexible and sustainable operations. Because of the importance of industrial robots, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) developed standard 8373:2021, Robotics Vocabulary, to define terms used in robotics and provide a common language for discussing the many types of robots and their applications. The International Federation of Robots (IFR) used key terms defined in ISO 8373:2021 to identify six robot classifications based on their mechanical structure, including: ■ Articulated
ISO 8373:2021 defines an industrial robot as an "automatically controlled, reprogrammable, multipurpose manipulator, programmable in three or more axes, which can be either fixed in place or fixed to a mobile platform for use in automation applications in an industrial environment." Reprogrammability is a crucial differentiator. Some industrial machines may have manipulators and move in multiple axes that can handle specific tasks like picking up bottles on a beverage filling line and placing them into a box. But it's not a robot if it's dedicated to that single purpose and not reprogrammable. "Reprogrammable" is defined in ISO 8373 as "designed so that the programmed motions or auxiliary functions may be changed without physical alterations."
■ Cartesian ■ Cylindrical ■ Parallel/Delta ■ Polar ■ SCARA
Types and numbers of robot joints
ISO 8373 defines two types of robot joints: ■ Prismatic joint, or sliding joint, is an assembly between two links that enables one to have a linear motion relative to the other. ■ Rotary joint, or revolute joint, is an assembly connecting two links that enables one to rotate relative to the other about a fixed axis. The IFR has used these and other ISO 8373 definitions to identify six industrial robot classifications
This article reviews ISO 8373:2021, looking at the four key terms that define a robot, focusing on the need for reprogrammability and the types and numbers of robot joints used by the IFR to develop robot classifications. It then digs into the details and nuances of each robot classification and presents exemplary robots from several makers. Along the way, it also looks at systems called robots that don't meet all the ISO requirements.
we get technical
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