Metallic and non-metallic materials are being moulded by robots more frequently, with the latter being processed according to hardness, geometric complexity, physical tolerance and desired surface polish. Industrial robots now have better mechanical capabilities and can produce goods at higher speeds thanks to recent technological advances. Worldwide, the use of robotics in production is steadily
The vast majority of jobs still require manual programming, although new offline robot programming tools are evolving and becoming more widely used. The industry standard for CNC machine programming is to employ robust, easy-to-use offline software. As a result, overall manufacturing costs have been reduced, accuracy has improved, machine downtime has been reduced, more complex
Numerous statistics suggest that the majority of companies in a variety of sectors intend to increase their use of automation and robots. Seventy per cent of US companies are planning changes to their operations, with 37% planning to bring production back in-house and 33% looking to offshore and move their operations closer to home. ABB’s
The production of high-quality structural elements can undergo a revolution thanks to “robotic blacksmithing“. Metamorphic production combines the precision and control of machines and robotic systems with the gradual deformation of a blacksmith. A group of undergraduate students at Ohio State University demonstrated the fundamental idea of robotic blacksmithing, formally known as metamorphic manufacturing, in
An industrial pick-and-place robot is used to handle and place products on a production line. They are typically used in high-volume manufacturing environments where they can quickly and accurately load products onto conveyor belts or other production tools. This may involve actions such as removing products from one machine and placing them on the conveyor
One of the UK’s leading bespoke furniture manufacturers is upgrading its end-to-end manufacturing capabilities with the help of a KUKA robot. The Jali factory in Kent has installed the 7-axis, 100kg payload KR100 model in an automated production cell. It has a flexible end effector that can hold the wide variety of tools required for
The Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) in Austria is working on a project investigating the development of 3D printed concrete parts for construction. The project on additive manufacturing of concrete elements using robots (COEBRO) is investigating resource efficiency in the use of concrete with 3D printing. A multidisciplinary team of architects, engineers and materials
Yaskawa has introduced the new Motoman HC30PL collaborative robot, which can lift up to 30 kg and has a reach of 1,700 mm (from the centre of rotation of the S/L axis to the centre of rotation of the R/T axis). Because it can be used immediately within its area of operation without the need
The sealants are applied at Ford via a KUKA LBR iiwa cobot. Without the requirement for safety fences, it works alongside human workers and provides relief during the work process. Workers at Ford’s Cologne plant benefit from the adaptability, sensitivity and learning ability of the lightweight KUKA LBR iiwa robot. According to Michael Koch, production
Having the potential to increase profits for producers around the world, the “Seventh Axis” is a phenomenon in the field of robotic automation. Robotics is seeing an increase in the use of “linear tracks”. A linear transfer system known as a seventh axis is used to move robots along another linear (or seventh) axis. These
