Robotics is an ever-growing field in the manufacturing industry. As manufacturers implement more industrial robots into the manufacturing process for both efficiency and safety, laborers should have an understanding of their different functions and uses.
Contrary to popular belief, robots aren’t here to make humans obsolete in the manufacturing industry. In fact, as their usage continues to grow, there will be a greater demand for workers who know how to build, program, and maintain industrial robots. Robotics is a field that cannot be overlooked in terms of career opportunities.
According to the International Federation of Robotics, robots are classified by their mechanical structure. Below are the five types of robots you’ll most likely encounter in the manufacturing industry.
Cartesian Robots
Cartesian robots work on three linear axes using the Cartesian Coordinate system (X, Y and Z), also known as a 3-axis rotary motion. In simpler terms, this means they use three sliding joints to move up and down, in and out and side to side. They’re extremely popular in manufacturing because they’re highly flexible in their configurations, meaning the user has the ability to adjust the robot’s speed, precision, stroke length and size. The cartesian robot is the robot you’ll most commonly find in industrial manufacturing, especially for CNC machines or 3D printing.
Articulated Robot
Articulated robots are what most people might think of when they imagine a futuristic, robotics-driven industrial facility. They are similar to robotic arms, with anywhere between 2-10 joints, and are attached to a base with a twisting joint. Articulated robots can be most commonly found in packaging, painting, metal casting and other industrial applications.
SCARA Robots
Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arm (SCARA) robots have two parallel rotary joints that provide compliance in a plane. Like the cartesian robot, SCARA robots operate on a 3-axis rotary motion. You’ll most likely find this robot used for assembly applications and palletizing, as well as bio-med applications.
Delta Robots
Spider-like in structure, delta robots are less frightening than that image implies. They have three or four arms connected to joints at the base, which is usually at the top. Because of this, their movements are more like a high-speed claw machine than any arachnid.
Precise and fast, delta robots are used for high-speed picking, sorting, and packaging applications. Thanks to this, they’re mostly used for manufacturing in the food, pharmaceutical and electronic industries.
Cylindrical Robots
Considered a good fit for tight spaces, cylindrical robots are compact robots that feature a cylindrical-shaped base with a linear arm that can extend vertically and horizontally. Because they can fit into tight spaces, they’re extremely useful for manufacturing tasks where it might be too difficult or too dangerous for humans to do the same job. Cylindrical robots are extremely versatile, being suitable for welding, simple assembly, die-casting, coating applications and machine loading and unloading.
Robotics is a huge and growing field in the manufacturing industry, and one you should be ready to embrace. If you’re interested in a career in robotics, take one of AMTEP’s free training courses and begin your career in this lucrative field.