そのためのロボットがあります!

産業用ロボットについて考えるとき、おそらく最初に思い浮かぶのはは自動車組立ラインの溶接ロボットですが、高性能の産業用ロボットはそれ以上の用途のために独自に設計されています。航空宇宙産業から臨床検査室まで、そしてその間のあらゆるものにおいて、ロボティック オートメーションは、工場生産プロセス、タスク ターゲット オートメーション、およびその他のアプリケーションを次のレベルに引き上げることができます。ここでは、近い将来にロボットによる自動化を実装するきっかけになるかもしれない、興味深い印象的な使用方法をいくつか紹介します。

レー​​ザー アブレーション

アプリケーション/業界
自動車、航空宇宙

ロボット モデル
通常は、可搬質量の低い長腕ロボット (Yaskawa AR3120 など) です。パーツのサイズと希望するサイクル タイムに応じて、1 台以上のロボットを使用できます。

説明
表面に除去が必要なコーティング (塗料、グリース、釉薬など) がある用途では、通常、化学薬品が使用されます。残念ながら、これは多くの廃棄物を生み出し、通常は有害物質と見なされます。その後の環境への影響、つまり規制により、このプロセスに化学溶剤を使用することは困難になっています。さらに、きれいな基板を残すためにコーティングを拭いたりこすったりするのに必要な手作業の時間数は、時間がかかります。フィルターまたは他の封じ込め装置は、炭化したコーティングを容易に収集します。熱レーザー加工には遮光性のワークセルが必要なため、適切な安全のためにロボットが必要です。ロボットは、他のハード オートメーションを使用するのではなく、複雑な表面曲率に従うようにプログラムすることもできます。

複合表面インクジェット印刷

アプリケーション/業界
航空宇宙、他の可能性

ロボットモデル
航空宇宙用のロング アーム。スケールによっては小さくなります。

説明
これまで、航空機やその他の大きなサーフェスにグラフィックスを適用する場合、曲面や複雑なサーフェスを扱う際に詳細を正確に作成することは困難でした。しかし、サウスウェスト研究所 (SwRI) による 2017 年のプロジェクトでは、ロボットのアームに取り付けられた特殊なインクジェット印刷ヘッドを利用して、この複雑なタスクを実現しました。この複雑なプロセスは、デジタル印刷を使用して優れたパフォーマンスを実現し、グラフィックをペイントしたり、広い領域にさまざまな方向でデカールを貼り付けたりする従来の労働集約的な作業に取って代わります。レーザー アブレーションのように、ロボットは簡単に操作できるように設計されており、表面の角度の変化に巧みに対応し、一貫した印刷の再現性と品質を維持します。

この技術の開始以来、オランダのロボット メーカーである XYREC、 SwRI、Airbus、および Marabu と協力して、航空機でこの革新的なアプリケーションを成功裏に実証し、塗装工場での時間を 16 日間から 5 日間に短縮したと主張しています。 Potentially compatible with any surface substrate, this technology could also be used to apply one-off or custom graphics to smaller surfaces, like textiles and billboards, or even complex graphics to wider surface areas.

Additive Manufacturing

Application/Industry
Prototyping, Custom Parts

Robot Model
Varies – usually a highly repeatable, 6-axis robot with six degrees of freedom (i.e., Yaskawa AR1440).

Description
Thanks to the adoption of motion control technology, robotics and power conversion, 3D printing has reached a level of finesse and precision in recent years that is good enough to create usable parts without any (or much) finishing. Ideal for attaching unique tooling that enables a wide area 3D printer, the use of industrial robots in additive manufacturing is helping to create a diverse mix of products, including machine tooling fixtures.

Once limited to plastics, today’s technology can accommodate substances such as ceramics, composites, metals, hybrid materials and more. Most recently, advancements in slicer software within offline robot programming software has made it possible to print metal pieces using filler metal techniques such as MIG, TIG, or laser welding. These parts can then be used directly or machined as needed, saving a great deal of waste from other milling or machine techniques on a block of metal.

High-Precision Milling

Application/Industry
Machining, Custom Components

Robot Model
Versatile and powerful handling robot with a mid-range payload. (i.e., Yaskawa GP-series robots).

Description
Traditionally an arduous manual task, milling is the process of grinding or cutting superfluous material away from a mold to form a specific structure. In an effort to increase worker safety, accelerate production rates, enhance product quality and better adhere to industry standards, companies in diverse industries are implementing the use of automated milling systems, with easy-to-program robots equipped with flexible tooling. This is often used in conjunction with 3D printing for part finishing.

Pallet Assembly

Application/Industry
Pallet Production

Robot Model
6-axis palletizing robot, ranging in payload from 50 kg to 800 kg.

Description
Difficult and dangerous, the task of manually building pallets is hard work. This, combined with the growing trend for stronger custom-designed pallets, has prompted competitive-minded manufacturers to implement robotic pallet assembly systems that provide the flexibility and consistency needed to build custom, stringer and block pallets from the same system. Likewise, freeing workers from the dull, dirty and dangerous work of pallet production allows decision makers to redeploy skilled workers to higher-value jobs within the company, maximizing return on investment.

Meat Processing

Application/Industry
Meat Packing, Poultry Production, etc.

Robot Model
Fast and powerful handling robot with a medium range payload.

Description
While safer and more sanitary than in the past, meat packing and poultry production plants still present distinct hazards that can impact the physical health of manual workers. To reduce human error and protect employees, meat and poultry processing companies are seeking out robotic technology to drive safety, optimizing efficiency in the process. Furthermore, improvements in vision technology and end-of-arm tooling over the last decade have enabled robots to easily facilitate a variety meat processing tasks, optimizing production.

Speciman Processing

Application/Industry
Clinical Laboratory

Robot Model
Varies on application (i.e, Yaskawa MotoMini for bulk oader, or a high-performance 6-axis robot with a lower payload for centrifuge).

Description
From skilled technician shortages to rigorous accreditation requirements – along with rising specimen volumes combined with inefficient workflows – clinical laboratories are facing many challenges today. Chief among these is the pressure to expand services in creative ways, providing a more value-based care approach while yielding cost savings. In an effort to move forward into the future of Clinical Laboratory 2.0, high throughput clinical diagnostic labs are turning to robotic automation solutions to complete pre- and post-analytic specimen sorting and processing tasks.

Ribbon Tying

Application/Industry
Food and Beverage, Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Products, Tacking and Logistics, Industrial Packaging

Robot Model
Compact and agile material handling robot with a lower payload.

Description
Manual bow tying can be a tedious task, potentially causing physical harm to workers. Due to increased demand for customized packaging, ribbon tying is growing in popularity. First used in 2014 for Esther Price Fine Chocolates Candy Co., this difficult to automate application required the combined use of 3D simulation software for precise programming and a high-performance robot for greater maneuverability and consistency. Likewise, having the proper end-of-arm tooling and a controlled environment for this application was critical to achieving optimal choreographed repetition.

Entertaining / Food Assembling

Application/Industry
Entertainment, Casual Dining, Theme Park, etc.

Robot Model
Varies on application.

Description
Not only do industrial robots help provide consistency for certain tasks in day-to-day operations, but also, they allow restaurant and other business owners to provide a unique experience to patrons. From being used for carnival rides to making egg sandwiches and dispensing ice cream, industrial robots are growing in use throughout the entertainment world. When outfitted with the proper end-of-arm tooling and equipped with the correct safety features, robots can accomplish a wide variety of out-of-the-box tasks such as bartending and more.

Conclusion

While the list for these unique applications could go on, the fact that industrial robots are able to add value to businesses in nearly every industry is impressive to say the least. The truth is, certain applications are extremely unsafe for humans to try, making those tasks perfect for robotic automation. Other applications that are dull or dirty are well-suited for robots, as they can fill a need where a human may not want to do the work. If you can dream it, most likely, our team of experts can make it a reality. And, if you are on the fence about whether a particular task could be automated, chances are, there’s a robot for that!