5 Must-Have Features in a industrial robot arm

Robots have become an essential element of the industrial production process, taking over repetitive, risky, and time-consuming work from people while simultaneously increasing productivity and quality. Technical breakthroughs and new inventive robots are quicker, more compact, and less expensive than earlier models. As a result, robots are now widely utilized in a variety of sectors like health care, agriculture, military, transport, and manufacturing.

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Industrial robots are capable of performing human-like activities such as running, packaging, painting, welding, and carrying objects. They are designed to provide solutions to a wide range of demands and perform a wide range of functions, and so require a wide range of specialized components to complete these tasks.

In this blog article, we will review the five main components of an industrial robot.

Components of an Industrial Robot

The main components of an industrial robot are Manipulators, End Effectors, Feedback devices, Controllers, and Locomotive devices.

1. Manipulators 

To simply understand what a manipulator is, think of it as the arm of a robot and like a human arm that has several joints. These joints or mechanical linkages are capable of movement in various directions to perform the work of the robot.

These mechanical linkages are driven by actuators which may be pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders, hydraulic rotary actuators, electric motors, drives, etc. The actuators may be coupled directly to the mechanical links or joints or may drive indirectly through gears, chains, or screws. When pneumatic or hydraulic drives are utilized, the flow of air or oil to the actuators is often controlled by valves mounted on the manipulator.

2. End Effectors 

 

This is a device that is attached to the end of a robotic arm to carry out its tasks. Think of it like the palm and fingers of a human hand. The End Effector is the component that moves or orients the product or process. It is used for specialized tasks such as welding, measuring, marking, drilling, cutting, painting, cleaning, and so on.

3. Feedback Devices 

These are a class of devices used to monitor an operation or process and then verify the operation or process has occurred. Back to a human body analogy, they are the organs that supply data to the brain (controller).

In a robot, a feedback device could be installed to sense the positions of the various links and joints and transmit this information to the controller. They may be simple limit switches, actuated by the robot's arm or position-measuring devices such as encoders, potentiometers, resolvers, and/or tachometers. Depending on the devices used, the feedback data is either digital or analog.

4. Controller

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The robot controller is a computer, composed of hardware and software, linked to the robot and essentially functions as its "brain'. Controllers have all of the characteristics associated with computers and contain sophisticated decision-making and data storage capabilities. They initiate and terminate the motion of the manipulator through interfaces with the manipulator's control valves and feedback devices, or perform complex arithmetic functions to control path, speed, and position, or provide two-way communications between the controller and ancillary devices.
 

Let's consider a robotic spray-painting system. This particular system uses a controller, pressure transducer, and valve positioner to control the flow of liquid paint to the spray-gun end effector. Here a pressure sensing transducer generates a proportional electrical signal that is fed into a controller. The controller then compares the input signal with a reference value and produces an output signal for a voltage-to-pressure transducer. This transducer converts an electrical signal to a variable 3 - 15 psi pneumatic signal that is used to control the output valve for the spray gun. The positioner adjusts the flow rate through the paint gun by changing the control valve setting.

Working simulation of spray paint robots in RoboLogix simulation software

5. Locomotive Device

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Muscles help in the movement of the arm, fingers, and palm in humans. For the robot, the power of movement is provided by motors. pneumatic, electric, and hydraulic motors are the three most popular types of motors used in robot movement.

Knowledge of these five components provides the foundation of understanding for working with robots used in robotic manufacturing systems that are installed, programmed, and maintained by robotics technicians.

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Robotic arms are a highly recognised and widely used tool in different industries and are capable of doing heavy-weight tasks and hazardous materials-related tasks. These have been in use for a decade in factories and laboratories. Like any other robot, multiple industrial robot components are grouped to form an arm. All these robotic arm components come together in cohesion to make it work properly. In this article, we will understand the five basic robotic arm parts. So, keep reading.

The speed, compactness, and affordability of modern robots are well known. Nowadays, robots are employed extensively throughout a wide range of sectors, including the robotic welding of aluminum for autos, heavy equipment, railroad locomotives, door frames, and other items.

Technological developments and new, creative robot designs are primarily to blame for this. While such claims are accurate, robot components are one facet of robotics advancement that is sometimes overlooked.

Industrial robots are composed of several components that cooperate in carrying out diverse duties. They have also progressed along with technology, leading to higher-performing robots. What exactly a robot is made of and how it functions remains a mystery. Here is a brief and simple explanation of robotic arm parts.

The Five Basic Robotic Arm Components

In order to create the structure of a robot, metallic and electrical pieces are fused together. Each component serves a structural purpose, such as isolating electrical components, or a functional purpose, such as supplying the robot with electricity. Although robot manufacturers may use different components depending on the design of their robots, the general idea and the functions of such parts are frequently the same.

Controllers

The main component of the robotic arm is the primary processor, and its brains are called controllers. They can either function automatically according to programming or through human operation by directly transmitting instructions from a technician. They come in a number of forms depending on the amount of computing power required and are essentially the control consoles for the robotic arms. 

While some of the controllers used in big industries are sophisticated computer systems, others, like those included in science project kits, are straightforward joysticks. For instance, the FANUC Lr Mate 200ic uses an R-30ia controller, whereas the Motoman MH50 pairs with a Motoman DX100.

Arms

The arm is the major part of the robot arm and consists of three parts: the shoulder, elbow, and wrist. These are all joints, with the shoulder lying at the base of the arm, often attached to the controller, and it may move forward, backward, or spin. 

The elbow, which is at the centre of the arm, permits the upper portion to move forward or backwards without affecting the lower portion. The wrist, which connects to the end effector, is located at the very end of the upper arm.

End Effector

The robotic arm's end-effector serves as its hand. It typically has two claws, but occasionally there are three, and they may open and close at will. It also spins at the wrist, facilitating simple material and equipment movement. To complete arc welding applications, the GarLine C, an optical laser seam tracking welding sensor, may be used.

Drives

The drive is the engine or motor that drives the links into their prescribed places. The spaces in between the joints are known as "links." Hydraulic, electric, or pneumatic drives are typically employed by industrial robot arms. Robots using hydraulic driving systems can move quickly and powerfully. 

An electric system reduces a robot's speed and strength. Pneumatic driving methods are employed for smaller robots with fewer axes of motion. Drives should routinely be checked for wear and replaced as necessary.

Sensors

The industrial robotic arm's sensors enable it to get information about its surroundings. They might be able to give the robot some limited hearing and vision. The sensor gathers data and electronically transmits it to the robot under control. 

These sensors can be used, for example, to prevent two closely collaborating robots from colliding. By compensating for component variations, sensors can also help end effectors. Thanks to vision sensors, a pick and place robot can distinguish between objects to choose from and objects to disregard, thanks to vision sensors.

Conclusion

The calibre and performance of an industrial robot are determined by the parts' quality and the craftsmanship employed to assemble them into a robot. This is maybe what distinguishes a top industrial robot manufacturer from the competition. We hope this article was useful to our readers looking for information regarding industrial robot components and robotic arm parts.