An industrial robot is a multi-functional, multi-degree-of-freedom mechatronic automated mechanical equipment and system that can complete certain operational tasks in the manufacturing process through repetitive programming and automatic control. Combined with a manufacturing host or production line, it can form a single-machine or multi-machine automated system, realizing various production operations such as handling, welding, sorting, assembly, and painting without human intervention. The industrial robots used in these production operations are mainly six-axis robots and four-axis robots.
Four-axis robot
The first two joints of a quadcopter can rotate freely left and right in a horizontal plane. The third joint consists of a metal rod called a feather and a gripper. This metal rod can move up and down in a vertical plane or rotate about its vertical axis, but cannot tilt. This unique design gives quadcopters high rigidity, enabling them to perform high-speed and highly repetitive tasks. In packaging applications, quadcopters excel at high-speed pick-and-place and other material handling tasks.
Six-axis robot
Six-axis robots have two more joints than four-axis robots, thus offering greater degrees of freedom. The first joint of a six-axis robot can rotate freely in the horizontal plane, just like a four-axis robot, while the latter two joints allow movement in the vertical plane. Furthermore, a six-axis robot has an "arm" and two "wrist" joints, giving it capabilities similar to a human arm and wrist. The increased number of joints in a six-axis robot means it can pick up parts facing any direction on a horizontal plane and place them at specific angles into packaged products. They can also perform many tasks typically done by skilled workers.
The difference between a six-axis robot and a four-axis robot
The main difference between four-axis and six-axis robots is that four-axis robots are specifically designed for high-speed pick-and-place operations, while six-axis robots offer greater flexibility in production movements.
