One of the most challenging elements to motion control is the integration of robots. However, the benefits that can be achieved through this type of integration cannot be understated. They will inevitably enhance the quality of the system and boost productivity. Thus, the exercise is well worth the investment. However, it can be a very daunting task if you aren’t as familiar with your options as you’d like to be.
In fact, there are four questions that you must address before walking through the decision tree of what robots will best fit your application:
- What level of speed do you need?
- How precise does the motion need to be?
- How adaptable does the robot need to be?
- How much is in your budget?
Once you have a solid foundation to work from by understanding the answers to these questions, you’re ready to work with an experienced professional to make the important decisions about which robots to integrate.
Cartesian robots are the simplest type to integrate. They are very flexible models, utilizing various technologies like ball screws and linear motors. This allows for configurations with more than two axes. These robots do tend to be a bit on the slower side, but the integration is very straightforward, making it the easiest to integrate. Cartesian robots are not very versatile, but they are also one of the more affordable options.
Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arm (SCARA) models are very attractive to operators. They are very easy to integrate, have a very high speed and degree of precision and boast a moderate versatility. The price also is very middle-of-the-road, although a bit more expensive than the Cartesian variety.
Articulated robots can achieve high precision and is the most flexible of the models discussed here. It’s highly versatile but also requires a high level of programming expertise. And comes at a higher cost.
Collaborative robots or “cobots” are designed to collaborate with humans, so they allow for minimal integration. They typically operate at a lower speed and lower precision, but they rank high in terms of versatility. This is reflected in their higher price tag. If an activity may require on-the-fly adjustments by the operator, cobots may be the ideal choice.
The last element for consideration is maintenance. Operators are always trying to minimize downtime, so understanding the preventative maintenance requirements on these robots is critical. This requires a proactive effort to gather data for monitoring purposes.
I did a much deeper dive on the pros and cons of the different robot types for integrating into a motion control system last year in Control Design Magazine. For a little more in-depth discussion, be sure to check it out.
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