Industrial Robots in Factory Automation

Industrial Robots can be of great use in Factory Automation.

If the automation of your process or factory requires an industrial robot, there are many different types of robots. For the sake of clarity, let us define the type of robots referred to in these pages:

1. Pick and Place Units.
   These units are the least expensive of all the types in robot automation. They have fixed, non-freely programmable axes, i.e. the path that the unit will follow, will be constant and only adjustable, by stopping the system and making a mechanical adjustment. Compressed air is the power source.
    
2. The Scara Robot.
   These are the simplest of the programmable robots. Generally 4-servo driven axis are used and many are utilized in the field of assembly automation.
    
3. The 6-Axis Servo Robot
   In the field of factory automation, the 6-axis Servo Robot is probably the most recognized.
   
   Typically as shown in the photograph above. They are available in a wide range of work envelopes and have many payload capabilities. All 6-axis are freely programmable and thus offer the most flexibility. They can be used for a very wide range of applications-from spray painting to welding to palletizing. Of course, being the most complex of the robot types, they are also the most expensive, however, considering what you get, they are terrific value for the money!
    
4. The Gantry Robot.
   These can be air or servo driven, therefore fixed or freely programmable. (Guess which is the least expensive!) They are Cartesian in layout (i.e. straight line X-Y-Z motion) and generally used for material handling.