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Industrial robots are machines designed to enhance production and efficiency. These robots are programmable, meaning they can be customized to do a wide range of tasks like assembly and moving materials.
These robots are great for making a company's machinery work better, saving money in the long run, and keeping workers safe. Industrial robots also excel at tasks that are repetitive and require high precision.
Many manufacturers turn to Industrial robots to simplify their processes, improve worker safety, ramp up production, and cut costs. As these robots become common on factory floors, there's a growing demand for various types of Industrial robots that fit specific jobs and industries.
Below are the most common Industrial robots you can find on the market, including their strengths, weaknesses, and applications.
An Articulated robot is an Industrial robot that mimics the movement of a human arm. It consists of an arm attached to a base with a twisting joint. This arm can have anywhere from two to ten rotary joints, which are like pivot points.
These joints, or axes, allow the robot to move in different directions, similar to how our elbow, wrist, and shoulder joints work. Articulated robots mostly have either four or six axes, which provide them with a range of motion.
Articulated robots are known for their flexibility and ability to work at high speeds. They're often used in tasks like assembly, arc welding, material handling, machine tending, and packaging.
Cartesian robots, also known as linear or Gantry robots, are common types of Industrial robots. It operates by moving along three straight-line axes: X (side to side), Y (back and forth), and Z (up and down). Some versions can move up to six directions in total.
Cartesian robots often come with cameras and sensors to measure distances and identify objects.
A cylindrical robot is an Industrial robot with a unique structure. At its base, it has a rotary joint. Connected to this is an arm with a prismatic joint, which means it can move up and down, sort of like a telescope. This design gives the robot three ways to move: two in straight lines and one in a circular path.
The circular part allows it to rotate its arm 360°. This allows the robot to do both circular and straight movements on a horizontal plane. It can also move up and down and rotate around the same axis.
Cylindrical robots are designed for static environments, meaning they can't move on their own. This static design makes them incredibly stable and rigid - great for carrying heavy loads.
A Delta robot is easy to spot because it looks like an upside-down triangle, with a mobile platform and three arms joined by spherical joints. Like the Cartesian robot, the arms of the Delta robot can move in three directions: side to side (X), back and forth (Y), and up and down (Z) - the latter of which they're especially good at.
Delta robots are flexible and cover a wide working area in a dome-like shape. They can handle delicate tasks with precision at high speeds. This is because all three arms directly control the end part.
You'll often find Delta robots in industries like food, pharmaceuticals, and electronics, where things need to be picked up and placed fast.
A Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm (SCARA robot), is an Industrial robot that finds its use in multiple industrial applications. These robots have articulated arms and rotating joints on horizontal axes.
It excels at performing fast and precise movements on a horizontal plane. It can also work vertically, although with some limitations.
SCARA robots are particularly well-suited for pick-and-place tasks for light and moderate loads. You'll find these robots performing a variety of tasks in the medical industry.
Polar robots, often referred to as spherical robots, are among the most versatile Industrial machines available. They're used not only on production lines but also in research and development fields, such as robotics, artificial intelligence, and biomechanics.
These robots have a fixed base and offer three degrees of freedom, enabling movement along the X, Y, and Z axes. Additionally, they feature an extendable articulated arm that provides flexibility in reaching and maneuvering.
Collaborative robots, often called Cobots, are a type of Industrial robot that shares its workspace with humans. Unlike traditional robots, Cobots are designed to prioritize worker safety.
Cobots use sensors to keep an eye on what's happening around them, especially when humans are nearby. They use advanced force, proximity, and vision sensors to detect and respond to human presence.
The most commonly used type of Industrial robot is the Cartesian robot, which is often used in CNC machines and 3D printing. Articulated robots are also commonly used, particularly in manufacturing and the automotive industry.
The different types of Industrial robots are determined by several factors, but mainly their speed, size, and workspace. They are also determined by the arrangement of their arms; the number and configuration of these components define the type of Industrial robot.
When it comes to mechanical design, Industrial robots can be sorted into six main categories: Articulated robots, Cartesian robots, SCARA robots, Cylindrical robots, Delta robots, and Polar robots. As the world rapidly moves toward Industrial robotics, understanding the various types of Industrial robots is key. These robots, designed for use across multiple industries, can significantly help businesses in enhancing productivity, reducing costs, and prioritizing worker safety. In fact, they already have!