How To Set The External Axis Of Industrial Robots?

External axes of industrial robots refer to those external motion axes that are connected to the control system of industrial robots but independent of the robot body. Simply put, industrial robots generally have multiple joint axes, which endow the robot with basic motion capabilities. However, when production tasks have higher requirements for the robot's motion range, flexibility, or operation mode, external axes can work in coordination with the robot body, greatly expanding the robot's motion range and flexibility, enabling it to complete more complex and diverse tasks.
Types of external axes
1. Rotate external axis: Rotate external axis mainly provides rotational motion, suitable for scenes that require more joint rotation. For example, in some precision assembly work, precise angle adjustment of components is required before assembly, and rotating the external axis can play an important role. In the assembly process of automotive components, for some irregularly shaped parts, it is necessary to rotate the external shaft to drive the parts to the appropriate angle, so that the robot can accurately install them in place. In the flipping operation of objects, rotating the external axis can easily achieve a 180 degree or 360 degree flipping of the item, meeting different production needs.
2. Linear external axis: Linear external axis provides linear motion, suitable for applications that require larger workspace. In the handling and processing of large workpieces, the linear external axis can be designed as a mobile load-bearing platform, allowing robots to operate workpieces over a larger range. In the handling of building materials, by installing the robot on a movable track through a straight external axis, the robot can handle building materials at different positions, improving handling efficiency. In some production lines that require linear conveying of items, the outer axis of the straight line can also be used as part of the conveying device, cooperating with robots to complete material conveying and processing.
Requirements Analysis
1. Requirement for motion freedom: The primary task of configuring external axes is to determine whether additional axes are needed to expand the robot's motion freedom. Generally speaking, if production tasks require robots to complete complex spatial trajectory movements or precise operations in multiple directions, relying solely on the number of axes of the robot body may not be sufficient. In this case, it is necessary to consider adding external axes. In the processing of some large molds, robots are required to polish and polish the various surfaces of the mold, which requires the robot to not only move horizontally and vertically, but also have the ability to rotate and tilt. By adding rotating and tilting external axes, these additional degrees of freedom can be provided for the robot to successfully complete the task.
2. Workload and Range: It is crucial to determine the external axle load capacity and range of motion based on the task. Taking the transportation of large mechanical components as an example, assuming that the weight of the component to be transported reaches 500 kilograms and the transportation distance is within a straight line range of 10 meters, the selected outer axis of the straight line must not only be able to withstand the weight of 500 kilograms, but also meet the length requirement of 10 meters. In practical applications, a certain safety margin needs to be considered to cope with possible overweight or overlong situations, ensuring the stability and reliability of the external shaft during long-term use.
3. Special requirements for welding posture: Taking welding robots as an example, different welding tasks have different requirements for welding posture and weld shape. For some complex three-dimensional welds, such as welding of aircraft engine blades, robots need to be able to flexibly adjust the welding position and posture in multiple angles and directions. At this point, it may be necessary to configure multiple rotating external axes and straight external axes to enable the robot to accurately reach various positions of the weld seam and ensure welding quality. For long straight welds, such as welding large pipelines, the straight external axis can help robots maintain stable welding speed and position over long distances, improving welding efficiency and quality.
Precautions and maintenance points
Security guarantee
In industrial production, safety is always of paramount importance. To ensure the coordinated safety of the external axis and robot movements, a series of effective safety measures must be taken. Configuring safety sensors on the external axis is a crucial step, as these sensors can monitor the motion status of the external axis and the surrounding environment in real-time. When a person approaches or an object enters a dangerous area, the sensor will immediately send out a signal. After receiving the signal, the control system will quickly take corresponding measures, such as reducing the speed or stopping the movement, to avoid collision accidents. An emergency stop system is also essential. An emergency stop button should be prominently placed on the equipment. In case of an emergency, the operator can immediately press the emergency stop button to quickly stop the robot and external axis, ensuring the safety of personnel and equipment. It is also necessary to program and optimize the actions of the robot and external axes to ensure that they do not interfere or collide during their motion. By reasonably planning the motion path and setting motion parameters, the robot and external axis can coordinate and cooperate to complete tasks safely and efficiently.
Key points of daily maintenance
Regular inspection of hardware connections is a fundamental task of daily maintenance, which requires checking the mechanical connection components between the external shaft and the robot body, such as bolts, nuts, etc., for looseness to ensure a secure connection; Check whether the electrical connection lines are damaged, aged, etc., replace the problematic lines in a timely manner, and ensure stable signal transmission. During the operation of the equipment, dust and debris may accumulate, which may affect the normal operation of the equipment. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly clean the equipment by using a clean cloth or specialized cleaning agent to wipe the surface and key components inside the equipment. With the continuous development of technology, software also needs to be constantly updated to fix vulnerabilities, improve performance, and add new features. Regularly updating the control system software for robots and external axes can ensure that the equipment is always in optimal operating condition, improving production efficiency and stability.