introduction
Robots are the "crown jewel of manufacturing," and their research, development, manufacturing, and application are important indicators of a country's technological innovation and high-end manufacturing level. Currently, China's robot market is entering a period of rapid growth, with the "machine replacing human" trend unstoppable and product applications emerging one after another. However, many safety accidents have also occurred during the use of robots, resulting in personal injury, property damage, and information leaks. Seemingly safe robots actually have many problems in functional safety, key electrical components, information security, software quality, and operating systems.
CR certification, also known as China Robot Certification
In 2016, with the joint promotion of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Standardization Administration of China, the Certification and Accreditation Administration of China, and the State Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (now the State Administration for Market Regulation), the Robot Testing and Certification Alliance was established. On November 2, 2016, the China Robot Certification Mark was released, and the first batch of 20 CR certificates (industrial and service) were issued. This marked the formal establishment and implementation of my country's robot testing and certification system.
CR certification is part of the "Made in China 2025" initiative, aiming to "improve the quality of robot products, promote technological progress in the robot industry, foster the healthy and orderly development of the robot sector, convey confidence in high-quality product manufacturing, enhance the international competitiveness of Chinese robots, and innovate certification service models." Obtaining CR certification signifies that the robot has been recognized by a national authoritative institution in terms of product safety and reliability, and is a mark of product quality compliance.
Furthermore, robot certification has become a mandatory qualification for some large enterprises applying robots; it is also an essential standard for evaluating companies applying for robot project subsidies and bank loans. Under these circumstances, many companies have realized the importance of robot testing and certification.
Challenges of CR Certification
For industrial robots, you can choose safety certification, electromagnetic compatibility certification, or safety + electromagnetic compatibility certification.
In addition, the certification modes are divided into product type testing (Mode A) and product type testing + initial factory inspection + post-certification surveillance (Mode B).
In CR certification, the most difficult aspects to pass are the radiated and conducted emissions tests in EMC certification. For robot certification (for robots sold domestically), EMC specifies requirements for both emission and immunity.
The reasons for failure can be attributed to system design issues: factors such as cable selection, cabinet structure design, and filter selection can all lead to EMC non-compliance.
According to industry insiders, almost no company passes certification on the first try; multiple rectifications are required before they can meet the standards. "Moreover, obtaining the certificate is not the end of the process. There are also factory audits, random product inspections, and other methods to ensure that not only the robots used during certification meet the standards, but every robot leaving the factory must also comply with the certification."
Qingneng Dechuang's experience sharing
Qingneng Dechuang is a leading brand of servo drives for industrial robots in China, and has participated in the certification of dozens of industrial robot models. Regarding the challenging aspect of certification—EMC—Qingneng Dechuang's engineers have their own set of experiences: simply put, it involves shielding, filtering, and grounding.
First, there's the shielding. The cables inside the robot's main cable package are shielded, with the shielding layer fully connected to the heavy-duty, aviation-grade housing at a 360° angle. The cables connecting the robot to the electrical cabinet are also shielded, with the shielding layer fully connected to the heavy-duty housing at a 360° angle. For heavy-duty applications, EMC-specific heavy-duty cables must be used.
Secondly, it is important to select a suitable filter. The input and output terminals of the power filter must be completely isolated. The metal casing of the filter and the shielding box should be tightly connected to achieve good grounding. It is best to conduct a pre-test on-site before certification to save time during the on-site process.
Finally, grounding is required. The main body and the electrical cabinet need to be reliably grounded, and the metal components inside the electrical cabinet need to be reliably connected.
The design and rectification methods for conducted interference generally start from the following points:
1. Choose a suitable filter;
2. The length of the power input cable inside the shielded enclosure should be shortened;
3. The input and output terminals of the power supply filter must be completely isolated;
4. The filter's metal casing and shielding box are tightly integrated to achieve good grounding.
5. Select a suitable magnetic ring for temporary adjustments.
Conclusion
Currently, CR certification is aligned with international standards. It's not just a simple certificate, but a symbol of a company's overall strength, while also standardizing domestically produced industrial robots. The industrial robot industry is gradually recognizing the importance of CR certification. This is of paramount value for the stable development of domestically produced industrial robots in the future.
