For experienced mechanical and electrical engineers in the automation industry, choosing the appropriate "robot" may be a simple task. But for designers or factories who are preparing to purchase and import robots for the first time, they may feel a bit confused.
Below, we will discuss how to choose a suitable industrial robot based on 4 of 9 professional parameters.
01 Application Scenarios
Firstly, the most important source is to evaluate the application and process of the imported robot.
If the application process needs to be completed by machine collaboration next to manual labor, collaborative robots (Cobots) should be a good option for typical human-machine hybrid semi-automatic lines, especially in situations where frequent station changes or line shifts are required, and in conjunction with new torque sensors.
If you are looking for a compact Pick&Place material robot, you may want to choose a horizontal joint robot (Scara).
If you are looking for situations where small objects can be quickly retrieved and placed, parallel robots (Delta) are the most suitable for such needs.
In the following discussion, we will focus on vertical joint multi axis robots. This type of robot can adapt to a very wide range of applications. Special processes such as material collection, placement, stacking, spraying, deburring, welding, etc. Nowadays, industrial robot manufacturers have corresponding robot solutions for almost every application process. All you need to do is clarify which job you want the robot to do for you, and choose the most suitable model from different types.
02 Payload
The payload is the maximum load that a robot can carry in its workspace. From 3kg to 1300kg, for example.
If you want the robot to complete moving the target workpiece from one workstation to another, you need to pay attention to adding the weight of the workpiece and the weight of the robot's paws to its workload.
In addition, it is particularly important to note that the load curve of the robot may vary in actual load capacity at different distance positions within the spatial range.
03 Degrees of Freedom (number of axes)
The number of axes configured by the robot is directly related to its degrees of freedom. If it is for a simple and straightforward situation, such as taking from one belt line to another, a simple 4-axis robot is sufficient to handle it.
However, if the application scenario is in a narrow workspace and the robot arm requires a lot of twisting and rotation, a 6-axis or 7-axis robot will be the best choice.
The number of axles generally depends on the application situation. It should be noted that selecting a slightly more number of axles is not a problem in terms of flexibility, provided that cost allows. This facilitates the subsequent reuse and transformation of the robot to another application process, which can adapt to more work tasks instead of discovering that the number of axes is insufficient.
Robot manufacturers tend to use slightly different axes or joints for naming. Basically, the first joint (J1) is the one closest to the robot base. The following joints are called J2, J3, J4, and so on until they reach the end of the wrist.
04 Maximum Operating Range
When evaluating the target application, it is important to understand the maximum distance that the robot needs to reach. Choosing a robot is not just based on its payload - it also requires a comprehensive consideration of the exact distance it reaches. Each company will provide a map of the operating range of the corresponding robot, which can determine whether the robot is suitable for a specific application. The horizontal motion range of the robot, pay attention to the non working area near and behind the robot.
The above are 4 out of 9 parameters to refer to when selecting a suitable industrial robot, and the remaining 5 parameters will be discussed in the next article.