Why robot arm was invented and how it’s used in the USA
Most robots used by industries are designed to handle repetitive and heavy manufacturing tasks. Usually, robots are subjected to handle dangerous, boring and difficult tasks. The robotic arm is the most commonly used manufacturing robot. Basically, a robot arm is a type of mechanical arm that is programmable and can carry out similar functions as a human arm. In the current modern world, robotic arms are used for almost all tasks from building motherboards to performing open heart surgeries. The technological advancements have come a long way from the very first application of robotic arms.
A typical robot arm used in applications in the USA will feature seven metal segments that are interconnected by six joints. A computer controls the robotic arm by rotating the step motors connected to individual joints. The larger robotic arms use pneumatics or hydraulics. As the step motors move in increments, the computer can move the arm precisely and perform the same movement repetitively. There will be motion sensors to move it as required.
Why use a robotic arm for manufacturing purposes in the USA
A robotic arm is similar to the human arm. Its job is to move an end effector from one place to another. It is possible to outfit these with any type of end effector, which suits the application it is subjected to handle. The commonly used end effector is a simplified version of hand that can hold and move around various objects. The robot arm features inbuilt pressure sensors that will convey the computer how hard it is gripping the object. By doing so, it will prevent the robot from breaking or dropping the object it is carrying. The other end effectors used in applications include drills, spray painters and blowtorches.
How industrial robots are used by companies in the USA
The industrial robots are also designed to perform the same task but in a controlled environment repeatedly. The robot might be used by the manufacturing companies to twist the caps of peanut butter jars moving down the assembly line. It is taught to handle the job with the help of a programmer guiding it throughout the task using a handheld computer. The robot will store the sequence of movements it is expected to carry out in its memory and do the same repetitively as the units move down the assembly line.
Usually, industrial robots find use in auto assembly lines where these are used to put cars together. Robots will work efficiently than the human workforce as these are highly precise and can handle heavy workloads. The industrial robots can be programmed to drill exactly in the same place of each unit that is passed down the assembly line. Also, these can be used to tighten the bolts of each unit with the same level of force even after working for hours together. Besides the auto assembly lines, manufacturing robots also find use in the computer manufacturing industry as it is important to be highly precise in assembling tiny microchips.
Robotic arms used in manufacturing industries in the USA are of many types
There are many types of robot arms used by the manufacturing industries and Cobot Dealers in the USA. The specific type of robot arm used for an application depends on its capabilities. Some common robot arms used in the manufacturing industries are,
- Cylindrical robot
- Cartesian or Gantry robot
- SCARA robot
- Spherical or Polar robot
- Articulated robot
- Parallel robot
Talking about their purposes, the Cartesian or Gantry robot is used for picking and placing work, applying sealant, handling of machine tools, assembling operations, arc welding, etc. The cylindrical robot is used in assembly operations, spot welding, handling machine tools and handling of die-casting machines. The Polar/Spherical robot arms are used to handle machine tools, die-casting, spot welding, fettling machines, arc welding and gas welding. The axis of this robot forms a polar coordinate module.
The SCARA robot is used to pick and place tasks, assembly operations, sealant application and handling of machine tools. It features a couple of rotary joints that are parallel providing compliance within a plane. When it comes to articulated robots, these are used for similar purposes as spherical or polar robot arms but can also handle spray painting. This type of robot arm features a minimum of three rotary joints. The parallel robot arm is used to manage cockpit flight simulators. It features concurrent rotary or prismatic joints. Finally, the anthropomorphic robot resembles a human hand with fingers and thumbs.