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Majority of manufacturers are now using industrial robots to increase production and automate tasks. Operating costs are lowered and worker safety is enhanced.
The increase in demand for industrial robots has resulted in different types of robots that are now available to fit specific applications and industry needs. We take a closer look at what’s available in the market, how they function and for what industry they are used. Cartesian Robots Also known as a gantry or linear robot, these industrial robots work on three linear axes that use the Cartesian Coordinate System (X,Y, and Z), which means they move in straight lines on 3-axis. They can go up and down, side to side and in and out. They are a great choice because they are flexible in their configurations giving owners the option to adjust precision, speed, size and stroke length. Cartesian robots are used for industrial applications like 3D printing and CNC machines. SCARA Robots SCARA means Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm. This robot functions on 3-axis with rotary motion added. These robots are excellent in lateral motion and are faster and have easier integration compared to Cartesian robots. A common use is for assembly and palletizing plus bio-med applications. Articulated Robots These robots have a mechanical movement that is very similar to a human arm. The arm is mounted on a base that has a twisting joint. It can feature from two rotary joints to ten rotary joints which serve as axes. Each added joint or axis allows a greater degree of motion. Most robots have four to six-axis and they are used in applications like material handling, arc welding, packaging, machine tending, and assembly. Cylindrical Robots They have a rotary joint at the base and a prismatic joint to join the links. The robots have a cylindrical-shaped work envelope with a rotating shaft and extendable arm that slides and moves in a vertical motion. These robots are common in tight work spaces for common assembly lines, machine tending, and coating applications. Delta Robots Also known as parallel robots, these spider-like bots has three arms joined to a single base which is mounted on top of the workspace. These robots work in a dome-shape and can move precisely and delicately at high speeds. They are used for quick pick and place applications in electronic, food and pharmaceutical industries. Polar Robots These spherical robots have an arm with two rotary joints and a single linear joint linked to a base with a twisting joint. The axes of the robot work together to make a polar coordinate which gives it the ability to have a spherical work envelope. They are known as the first types of industrial robots to ever be invented. Polar robots are used for die casting, welding, injection molding, and material handling. Collaborative Robots Cobots are robots that can interact with humans in a shared workspace. They are safe to work with and they are used for pick and place, quality inspection, machine tending and palletizing. |