What is robotic surface treatment?

Robotic surface treatment is a process where robots take over the boring, slow task of prepping surfaces for finishing or further processing. 

This approach brings a major precision and efficiency overhaul to industries ranging from automotive to aerospace.

‍

The essential components of a surface treatment robot 

Surface treatment robots are complex machines that require many parts to work as a unit.

Let’s get into the main components: 

• Robotic arm and end effector: The backbone of any surface treatment robot. This flexible limb moves precisely to reach every nook and cranny. Some arms, like Standard Bots’ RO1, have six axes of motion or more. 
  ‍
• Sensors and vision systems: As the sense organs, they help the robot navigate and assess surface conditions in real time.
  ‍
• Control system: This centralized hub coordinates all the robot's movements and processes.
  ‍
• Application tools: They put on coatings and sand surfaces or do other treatments as needed.
  ‍
• Safety features: Emergency stops and protective barriers keep humans safe around these powerful machines. Nobody wants a robot running wild. 
  ‍
• Programming interface: How humans talk to the robot. User-friendly software (hopefully) lets operators set up new jobs quickly.

‍

How robots automate the surface treatment process

Interested in knowing how this whole process works? 

Let’s get into the nitty-gritty: 

• Surface prep: First up, the robot gets the surface clean and smooth by sanding or blasting away any imperfections. It uses sensors to make sure everything is even and ready for the next step.
  ‍
• Applying the coating: Once the surface is nice and prepped, the robot applies paint, coatings, or finishes with controlled nozzles. It adjusts the pressure and speed to get a smooth, even coat every time.
  ‍
• Curing and drying: After applying the coating, the robot moves the part to a drying or curing area — which adjusts the timing and temperature just right for a perfect finish.
  ‍‍
• Final check: Last but not least, the robot scans the surface using lasers or cameras to make sure there are no flaws and everything looks perfect before moving on.

Benefits of robotic surface treatment

Robotic surface treatment brings some major perks to the table. 

Here’s why companies have already implemented these bots successfully: 

• Flawless, consistent finishes: Surface treatment robots deliver spot-on consistency. They apply coatings, paints, or other treatments with major accuracy, leaving no room for human error. This means your products look great and perform even better. Of course, this doesn’t mean there are no errors. It just drastically cuts down the likelihood of them occurring. 
  ‍
• Less menial work, more brainy work: By automating the surface treatment process, you free up your team from the repetitive stuff. Your skilled workers can focus on more complex jobs that really need human empathy, flexibility, and know-how.
  ‍
• Going green is easier: Surface treatment robots help you stay on the right side of environmental regulations. They're programmed to use materials efficiently, cutting down on waste and emissions. Plus, they can handle eco-friendly treatments that might be tricky for humans to apply on the reg. 

‍

Challenges of implementing robots for surface treatment

Bringing surface treatment robots into your production line isn't always as easy as buying one and calling it a day. 

Here are a couple of hurdles you’ll have to hop over:

• High price tags: The high upfront cost of specialized surface treatment robots can be a major financial hurdle for companies. These aren't your run-of-the-mill machines, and their advanced capabilities come at a premium. You're looking at a significant upfront investment that could squeeze your budget like a blood orange. 
  ‍
• Fitting the puzzle piece: Getting your shiny new surface treatment robot to play nice with your existing setup can be tricky. It's not just about plugging it in and hitting the "on" switch. You'll need to figure out how to integrate it into your current production flow without causing costly disruptions or bottlenecks.

‍

Case studies: Successful automation of surface treatment

Real-world examples prove that surface treatment robots can significantly boost productivity and quality in manufacturing. 

Here are some standout real-world examples: 

• GrayMatter Robotics: In the aerospace sector, GrayMatter Robotics introduced robots for surface sanding, cutting material waste by 50% while improving production speed big-time. Their robotic systems deliver consistent quality, making a significant impact in the industry, especially by smoothing out processes that would otherwise involve heavy manual labor.
  ‍
• Midwest Engineered Systems: Midwest Engineered Systems is also using AI-driven robots for surface preparation in industries with high-mix, low-volume production. Their robots adjust during operations, which hugely cuts down on rework and further nixes material waste. 

‍

Summing up

So, are you still on the fence about getting a surface treatment robot? 

You shouldn’t be: These robots are bringing major efficiency gains to industries worldwide, and they’re only set to start becoming even more powerful.

Are you thinking about bringing one of these machines to your shop floor? Then, read on to the next section to find out more. 

‍

Next steps

Need a six-axis cobot arm that delivers results without breaking the bank? RO1 by Standard Bots is the answer. It's the perfect blend of affordability, performance, and ease of use.

• Unbeatable value: RO1 offers top-tier performance at half the price of comparable robots. You get twice the value for your money. 
  ‍
• High production tech: With an 18 kg payload capacity and lightning-fast speed and precision, RO1 will supercharge your productivity.
  ‍
• User-friendly and intelligent: RO1's no-code interface and powerful AI, on par with GPT-4, make it easy to program and deploy, even for non-technical users.
  ‍
• Safe and collaborative: RO1s are equipped with safety sensors, machine vision, and collision detection to ensure a secure and reliable operation.

‍

Don't miss out on this opportunity to optimize your business. Contact our team today for a free 30-day trial and personalized support.