1、 External Axis Definition
External axis refers to the axis added to the robot body for work purposes, after removing the axis.
For example, the intrinsic axis of an SCARA robot is 4 axes, so if the external axis of an SCARA should be the 5th axis, 6th axis, etc; The external axes of the six axis ARTIC robot are the 7th and 8th axes.
2、 Current mainstream applications of external shafts
1. Slide rail
Installing the joint robot on the sliding track and controlling the ground slide through external axis function can achieve long-distance movement of the joint robot, which can achieve large-scale and multi-station work. For example, in the machine tool industry, one arm is used to pick and place multiple machine tools, and in the welding industry, large-scale welding and cutting are used.
Welding robots, as mechanical equipment in the field of intelligent manufacturing, have been widely used and popularized in industrial automation production lines. Welding robots often need to install external shafts during the welding production process to efficiently complete the welding task of the workpiece. The function of the external axis is to cooperate with the robot body to shift or displace the welding workpiece, achieving the optimal working position of the welding robot.
We all know that the external axis of the welding robot includes many robot auxiliary devices, such as horizontal welding displacement machines. In addition, there are many workpieces that need to be welded on both sides. At this time, we need to install a horizontal welding displacement machine to fix the workpieces that need to be welded on the welding displacement machine. When the welding robot completes welding on one side, the welding positioner automatically flips over to the other side for welding operations.
Horizontal welding displacement machines are divided into: linkage welding displacement machines and non linkage welding displacement machines. Linkage welding displacement machines can efficiently cooperate with welding robots to stop welding at any angle; The non linkage welding positioner can only flip positive and negative 180 degrees. Therefore, when customers purchase welding robots, they should choose appropriate welding displacement machines based on the actual welding production needs of the enterprise.
The walking track of a robot is also a common external axis for welding robots. The walking track of a welding robot is usually equipped with a ground track when the robot itself has insufficient travel, allowing the welding robot to walk on the set track. The proportion of robot walking tracks in practical use is very large, for example, in industries such as automotive parts, boxes, safety barriers, large doors and windows, etc., it is necessary to install walking tracks to achieve the control range required for welding.
Many customers are now concerned that installing robots on the track will affect the automation welding accuracy, efficiency, and speed of the welding robot, but in fact, it is not. Due to the linkage operation between the robot's walking track and the welding robot, the welding robot has already moved and walked on the walking track during welding production, so there is no need to worry about efficiency issues. The accuracy of the robot's walking track is usually achieved by grinding dimensions and screws, and the welding accuracy can be guaranteed.
Of course, the external axis of the welding robot also includes a horizontal welding positioner. Generally speaking, horizontal welding displacement machines are similar to horizontal welding displacement machines, except that the rotation direction is horizontal, and they are mostly used for larger diameter welding parts.