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Industrial robots are highly adaptable, multifunctional machines that can be reprogrammed to operate across two or more axes. Their primary function revolves around manoeuvring materials, components, or tools through programmable motions to execute a myriad of tasks. Leveraging their inherent versatility, these robots find application across every industrial sector.
The principal focus of this purchasing guide is dedicated exclusively to industrial robots, with service and inspection robots addressed separately.
Determining the appropriate industrial robot necessitates careful consideration of the intended application field. Depending on the robot's ultimate objective, four primary categories are available for selection: articulated, Cartesian, SCARA, or parallel robots. Each type boasts unique advantages and limitations tied to factors like the number of axes, maximum lifting capacity (payload), and operating range. These criteria play a pivotal role in refining your selection process.
Articulated Robots: Modeled after the human arm, these robots feature a series of joints, each providing a degree of freedom, typically ranging from 4 to 7. This design grants them exceptional flexibility, enabling access to any position and orientation within their workspace, even amidst obstructions. Articulated robots excel in tasks such as arc welding, spot welding, material handling, and machine loading/unloading. While offering superior operational adaptability, they are
more challenging to program and come at a higher cost. Collaborative versions (cobots) are increasingly available.
Cartesian Robots: Characterized by linear motion along axes, Cartesian robots simplify programming and prove highly efficient, particularly for repetitive chores like machine unloading. Their standout feature is exceptional positional accuracy throughout the work envelope, making them ideal for applications demanding precision, like coordinate measuring machines. The modular design permits the creation of large-scale robots capable of overseeing multiple machines within a production line. Applications extend to meticulous assembly, machine tool manipulation, and parts handling in injection moulding.
SCARA Robots: With movements confined to vertical axes achieved through planar rotation, SCARA robots surpass Cartesians in speed and flexibility. Notably, they can perform vertical insertions solely through Z-axis movement. Their straightforward design results in cost-effective solutions, with four degrees of freedom being standard for executing straightforward assembly tasks sans full part orientation requirements. SCARA robots provide heightened precision and affordability compared to articulated models for these specific applications. However, an articulated robot's increased flexibility is more advantageous for tasks demanding comprehensive part orientation.
Parallel Robots: Composed of interconnected, hinged parallelograms anchored to a shared base, this category prominently includes Delta or Spider robots. Renowned for their deft and accurate movements, they excel in assembly and packaging with minimal payloads or pick-and-place operations involving lightweight items, prevalent in the food, pharmaceutical, and electronics sectors.
Choosing the number of axes for a robot aligns with the task's intricacy. More complex tasks, like automotive painting, may necessitate over six axes, with some designs incorporating up to fourteen axes for dual 7-axis arms, albeit at the expense of reduced precision. Delta robots typically do not advertise their axis count.
Robots are commonly employed in diverse roles, with many manufacturers offering specialized lines tailored to particular applications, equipped with bespoke tools and features tailored to their designated tasks. Thus, whether it's welding robots armed with torches, painting robots fortified against liquid ingress, or palletizing robots with robust structures, selecting the right robot involves matching its capabilities with your specific operational needs and environment.