Collaborative robots stand out because they can perform tasks previously done entirely by humans. Thanks to the inherent safety features of collaborative robots, such as force feedback and collision detection, the safety of humans working alongside them is ensured. Below are seven common application scenarios for collaborative robots.
1. Pick up and place
For workers, manual picking and placing is one of the most repetitive tasks today. The monotonous and tedious nature of these operations easily leads to worker errors, and the highly repetitive physical movements can easily cause fatigue and injury. Applying collaborative robots to picking and placing tasks is a good starting point for reducing repetitive labor for workers. Picking and placing tasks refer to picking up workpieces and placing them at another location. In actual production, this operation can be used to pick up items from pallets or conveyor belts for packaging or sorting. Picking from conveyor belts also requires the support of advanced vision systems. Collaborative robots for picking and placing require an end effector to grasp objects, which can be a gripper or a vacuum suction cup device.
2. Equipment maintenance
Equipment monitoring requires workers to stand for long periods in front of CNC machine tools, injection molding machines, or other similar equipment, constantly monitoring their operational needs, such as changing tools or replenishing raw materials. This process is time-consuming and incredibly tedious for operators. In such cases, using collaborative robots not only frees up workers but also allows one robot to maintain multiple machines, increasing productivity. Monitoring-type collaborative robots require I/O interface hardware specific to the equipment. This hardware indicates to the robot when to enter the next production cycle or when raw materials need to be replenished.
3. Packaging and palletizing
Product packaging and palletizing fall under the pick and place category. Before products leave the factory floor, they need to be properly prepared for transport, including shrink wrapping, box assembly and loading, box sorting, and pallet placement for shipment. This type of work is highly repetitive and involves some small loads, making it ideal for replacing manual labor with collaborative robots. Rapid product changeover is critical for batch manufacturing companies with mixed high and low production volumes. This application requires the use of conveyor belt tracking to synchronize the movement of the robot and the conveyor belt. For products with inconsistent shapes, a vision system is also needed when applying this method.
4. Processing operations
Machining operations refer to any work process that requires the use of tools to manipulate workpieces. Collaborative robots are commonly used in gluing, dispensing, and welding processes. Each of these machining tasks requires the repetitive use of tools to complete fixed paths. These tasks would require a significant investment of time in training new employees to meet the required product quality. However, with collaborative robots, programming on one robot allows for replication to other robots. Collaborative robots also solve the problems of precision and repetitive operations performed by human workers. Traditional welding robot systems typically require operators with extensive knowledge of robot programming and welding.
The advantage of collaborative robot systems is simplified programming. Programming can be achieved simply by recording location and orientation, or through traditional CAD/CAM programming. This simplifies robot programming, allowing even workers with only welding experience to program collaborative robots. Using the Polyscope interface helps maintain a stable TCP speed, ensuring the robot can feed materials at a constant rate. Depending on the type of welding torch, sealant, adhesive, or solder paste, the end effector used in this application will vary.
5. Finishing operations
Manual finishing operations require hand tools and are often laborious. Vibrations from the tools can also cause operator injury. Collaborative robots can provide the force, repeatability, and precision needed for finishing. Types of finishing that robots can perform include polishing, grinding, and deburring. Robots can be taught to perform these actions through manual teaching or computer programming. The force control system inherent in collaborative robots makes them more durable. Finishing of parts of varying sizes can be achieved through end effectors or built-in force sensors.
6. Quality Inspection
Finally, collaborative robots can also perform quality inspections on parts. This process typically includes comprehensive inspection of finished parts, high-resolution image inspection of precision-machined parts, and comparison and confirmation between parts and CAD models. Mounting multiple high-resolution cameras on the collaborative robot can automate the quality inspection process and quickly obtain inspection results. Using collaborative robots for inspection results in high-quality inspections and more accurate production batches. Completing the inspection requires the installation of an end effector with high-resolution cameras, a vision system, and software.
