For seasoned professionals in the automation industry, experienced electromechanical engineers, choosing the right robot might be a simple task. So, what are the typical technical parameters of an industrial robot?
1. Degrees of freedom
Degrees of freedom (DOF) can be interpreted by the number of axes a robot has. The more axes a robot has, the more DDF it possesses. Greater flexibility in a mechanical structure leads to greater versatility. However, as DDF increases, the structure of a robotic arm becomes more complex, reducing the robot's rigidity. When the number of DDFs exceeds the number required to complete a task, redundant DDFs can provide the robot with some obstacle avoidance capabilities. Currently, most robots have 3-6 DDFs, selected based on the complexity of the task and the obstacles encountered.
2. Driving Mode
The drive method mainly refers to the power source of the joint actuator, generally including hydraulic drive, pneumatic drive, and electric drive. Different driving modes have their own advantages and characteristics, and the selection should be based on actual work needs. Electric drive is now more commonly used. The main advantage of hydraulic drive is low driving force, but its disadvantage is that oil is prone to leakage, polluting the environment; the main advantage of pneumatic drive is good cushioning and the ability to achieve stepless speed regulation, but its disadvantage is high noise; electric drive devices are highly efficient, easy to use, and low in cost.
3. Control Mode
The control mode of a robot, also known as the control axis mode, is mainly used to control the robot's motion trajectory. Generally, there are two control modes: servo control and non-servo control. Servo control mode can be further divided into continuous trajectory control and point control. Compared with non-servo control robots, servo control robots have larger storage space and can store more point addresses, making the operation process more complex and stable.
4. Working speed
Operating speed refers to the rotational angle or travel distance of the mechanical interface center or tool center per unit time. In short, the higher the maximum operating speed, the higher the work efficiency. However, higher operating speed requires more time to accelerate or decelerate, or the maximum acceleration or deceleration of an industrial robot.
5. Workspace
The workspace refers to the spatial volume occupied by the robot operator during normal operation. The origin of the end effector coordinate system can reach all points within the maximum range of spatial activity. The size of the workspace is related not only to the size of each component of the robot but also to the overall structure of the robot. The shape and size of the workspace are crucial. When the robot is performing an operation, it may be unable to complete the task because the operator cannot reach certain areas, resulting in dead zones.
