1. Temperature and humidity
Temperature effect: The working environment temperature of industrial robots has a significant impact on their performance and payload capacity. In high temperature environments, key components such as motors and reducers of robots may experience overheating. For example, when the ambient temperature exceeds the upper limit of the robot's designed working temperature (usually around 40-50 degrees Celsius), the efficiency of the motor will decrease and the torque output may decrease. This means that in high-temperature environments, the actual payload that robots can withstand may be lower than the rated value. On the contrary, in low-temperature environments, the flowability of materials such as lubricating grease deteriorates, and the resistance of mechanical components of robots increases. For example, in some cold outdoor engineering work scenarios (temperatures below -10 degrees Celsius), the joint movements of robots may become sluggish, and their payload capacity may also be affected.
Humidity impact: High humidity environments may cause electronic components of robots to become damp, leading to issues such as short circuits and corrosion. If the electronic components such as the circuit board of the robot become damp, its control system may malfunction, thereby affecting the robot's control of the payload. For example, in some factories or food processing workshops near the seaside (with humidity usually around 70% -90%), if there are no good moisture-proof measures, the performance of robots will be greatly reduced. For robots with strict moisture-proof requirements, it is necessary to choose a suitable protection level, such as IP65 (dust and spray water protection) or higher, to ensure normal operation in high humidity environments.
2. Dust and particulate matter
The impact on mechanical components: In working environments with a large amount of dust and particulate matter, such as foundries, cement plants, etc., these impurities can easily enter the joints, reducers, and other mechanical components of robots. Over time, the accumulation of dust will increase wear between components, reducing the accuracy and payload capacity of the robot. For example, in the foundry workshop, metal dust entering the joints of robots will wear down the bearings and seals of the joints like abrasives. If not cleaned and maintained in a timely manner, the robotic arm of the robot may not be able to accurately carry the rated effective load due to excessive wear and tear.
The impact on the cooling system: Dust can also affect the cooling system of robots. If the radiator is blocked by dust, the heat inside the robot cannot be dissipated in a timely manner, which will lead to an increase in internal temperature. This will not only affect the electrical component performance of the robot, but also indirectly affect its effective load capacity, such as the decrease in motor torque output in high-temperature environments mentioned earlier. Therefore, robots working in dusty environments need to have good dust-proof designs, such as sealed joint structures and efficient air filtration systems, to reduce the damage of dust to the robot.
3. Chemical substances and corrosive gases
Chemical corrosion: In some chemical production workshops, electroplating workshops, and other environments where chemicals and corrosive gases are present, robots may be subjected to chemical corrosion. For example, in the electroplating workshop, there are acidic gases such as hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid, which can corrode the metal casing, circuit boards, and other components of robots. For the robotic arm of a robot, if its material is not corrosion-resistant, the strength of the arm will decrease and the effective load capacity will also decrease after long-term exposure to corrosive gases. Therefore, in this environment, it is necessary to choose materials with anti-corrosion properties to make robots, such as stainless steel or materials with special anti-corrosion treatment on the surface.
Chemical reaction risk: Certain chemicals may react with each other to produce new substances. If the robot works in an environment where chemical reactions may occur, it is necessary to consider whether these reactions will cause damage to the robot. For example, in some chemical synthesis workshops, different chemical raw materials may leak and react during transportation or processing. If robots come into contact with these reactive substances, they may be damaged, thereby affecting their payload and performance. So, the protective coating and sealing design of robots should be able to prevent the invasion of these chemicals.
4. Electromagnetic interference
The impact on the control system: In some environments with strong electromagnetic interference, such as power substations, high-frequency welding workshops, etc., the control system of robots may be affected by interference. Electromagnetic interference may cause signal transmission errors and controller malfunctions in robots. For example, near a substation, strong electromagnetic fields may interfere with the communication lines of robots, causing them to receive incorrect instructions and unable to control the payload correctly. Therefore, in environments with strong electromagnetic interference, it is necessary to choose robots with electromagnetic shielding function, and to properly route and shield communication lines to ensure the stability of the robot control system.
The impact on sensors: Robots are typically equipped with various sensors to sense the status of the environment and payload. Electromagnetic interference may affect the accuracy and reliability of sensors. For example, in an environment with a strong magnetic field, the force sensor or vision sensor of the robot may have reading deviations. This can lead to errors in the robot's judgment of the payload, such as applying too much or too little force when grasping objects due to incorrect readings from sensors, affecting the normal operation of the work.