Robotic Arms: Different Types and When to Use Them

Robot arms are the predominant form of robot technology in the industrial field. Keep reading to know the advantages of this technology and determine if it suits you. Robotic arms are among the most recognizable pieces of robotic equipment in industrial settings. They usually fascinate people with their remarkable feats of speed and strength, yet their usages and how to utilize them can be enigmatic. This article will generally depict the position of robotic arms in industrial applications to offer you a better perception of whether they could be the appropriate choice for you.

Types of robotic arms

The term “robotic arm” generally depicts a set of robotic mechanisms. These various robot types usually have similar applications. Nevertheless, each type possesses distinctions which generally result in it being more suitable for certain tasks compared to other robotic arms. The types of robotic arms include:：

• Articulated arm
• Six-axis
• Collaborative robot
• SCARA
• Cartesian
• Cylindrical
• Spherical/Polar
• Parallel/Delta
• Anthropomorphic

Articulated arms are general-purpose robotic arms possessing 5 or more joints or degrees of freedom. The articulated arm is a broad term encompassing many other robot types. For example, a six-axis robot is an articulated arm with six degrees of freedom. Articulated arms cover the widest range of robot types utilized in industry and include six-axis and collaborative robots. You will find an example of this kind of robot in the banner image of this article.

Six-axis robots are the most prevalent articulated arm. This also makes them the most common robotic arm employed in industry nowadays. Due to their flexibility, they are an excellent general-purpose robotic arm. This endows the six-axis with an impressive array of uses. The six-axis robot is the most easily recognizable industrial robot.

The collaborative robot is a robotic arm specifically designed for hybrid work. This implies it is intended to work close to humans. Certain safety features enable significant risk reduction in hybrid work environments. This is a relatively new robot type and its uses are still being explored. Collaborative robots are becoming more prominent in the industry as more manufacturers are exposed to their benefits. The future is exciting for collaboratives.

SCARA robots are selectively compliant robot arms. This means they do not have the same flexibility provided to articulated arms. This restricts them in some respects but gives them certain advantages over articulated arm types.

Cartesian robots are rigid systems that move about in a 3D coordinate plane. These robots are typically composed of 3 linear actuators. One actuator moves left and right in the x-axis. Another actuator is attached to the x-axis actuator. This actuator moves up and down in the y-axis plane. A final actuator is attached to the y-axis member and moves back and forth in the z-axis plane. Cartesian robots are positioned for small-scale applications.

Cylindrical robot arms are designed around a single arm that moves up and down a vertical member. This vertical member rotates the arm horizontally. The arm can extend and retract to perform its task. These robots are very compact and are deployed for small and simple tasks.

The first modern industrial robot was a spherical (polar) robot. This robot type has a simplistic design that is not as common nowadays as it once was. Spherical robots are similar to cylindrical robots except they swap the vertical linear axis with an additional rotary axis. This axis allows it to rotate vertically. It was designed for simple tasks that do not require high speed or complex motion.

Parallel/Delta robots are high-speed choices for robotic automation. The unique design of these robots allows them to reach extraordinary rates of speed. The delta robot is a great option for high-speed and lightweight tasks.

Anthropomorphic robots are a rarity in industrial settings. These robots flaunt two or more arms and a friendly face. They are often deployed in collaborative environments where they are working in close proximity to human operators.

Industries and Applications for robotic arms

The industries and applications of these robot types vary widely. This is a demonstration of just how numerous the uses of robotic arms are in industry. Typical industries include:

It is effortless to comprehend that due to the broad spectrum of industries, the number of applications would also vary significantly. Some of the most common applications involve:

The general-purpose characteristic of robotic arms enables them to be excellent choices for numerous applications regardless of the industry. They achieve a good equilibrium among speed, payload capacity, reach, and precision. This permits them to perform effectively in many tasks. These features also endow manufacturers with the flexibility to reuse these robots in different applications beyond their original intention. This can be more challenging for other robot types. The flexibility provided by robotic arms is indeed a value addition for this robot type.

When to (and not to) use robotic arms

Robotic arms have such a prevalent position in industry because of their ability to carry out most tasks proficiently. There are certain characteristics of applications that enable robotic arms to particularly outshine other robot types. Some characteristics of your application that might lead you to consider a robotic arm encompass:

High degrees of dexterity are requisite

Large payload capacity and reach are needed

A hybrid work environment

Dexterity is a signature design of articulated arm types. Applications that demand a machine to twist and manipulate the product at strange angles can be a great fit for robotic arms. Specifically, the articulated arms such as six-axis and collaborative ones. Examples of this kind of application include robotic welding. This task frequently requires the robot to move at angles in several distinct planes. This is difficult or even impossible to achieve for most other robot types. SCARAs are a robot type that can struggle here due to their selective compliance. So, this feature is not common to all robotic arms.

Robotic arms typically have a good equilibrium of payload capacity and reach while not sacrificing too much speed. This enables them to undertake heavy-duty tasks that require both features. A good example of this is palletizing. The palletizing application often demands the robot to cover a broad range of motion to pick boxes and fill a pallet. Fully-filled boxes can be of considerable weight. This requires both strength and range which six-axis robots can often provide. Other robot types like delta robots lack the strength and range of motion to be able to perform these tasks on a large scale.

Hybrid work environments pose unique challenges for robots. Robot technology presents certain hazards to human operators and traditionally has to be separated from the external work environment. Some applications require a human-robot mixture to operate at peak efficiency. Collaborative robots are positioned to handle these types of applications. Material handling applications frequently utilize collaborative robot technology. This means a human operator can load raw materials into a staging area near the cobot while the robot handles the loading and unloading of the material into a machine. This loading and unloading might be dangerous for people. Removing them from the hazard creates a safer work environment.

Are you uncertain about which robot type is appropriate for you? You can readily talk to one of our experts who can assist you in choosing the exact robot type for your application based on your specific requirements.

Cost considerations

The cost of your robotic project directly affects your ROI calculation and your bottom line. It is crucial to have a distinct understanding of your anticipated costs prior to undertaking any robot project. Robotic arms are a broad category of machinery, so providing an exact range is an unfeasible task. Nevertheless, we can offer some context for your expected costs so that you are better prepared in terms of what questions to pose to suppliers. The total cost of your robot project will likely consist of elements such as:

Robotic arm

End-of-arm tooling

Safety equipment

Installation expenses

Integration expenses

Maintenance costs

These costs can rapidly accumulate. It is not unusual to have a final price of approximately $100,000 USD for a moderately sized robotic arm project. It is significant to comprehend these costs and the potential impact on your business in order to determine if a robotic arm is suitable for you. Still uncertain about your costs? Begin to obtain quotations for all of your proposed robot projects.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Robotic Arms

Advantages of Robotic Arms

– High precision and accuracy in performing tasks, ensuring consistent quality.

– Can work continuously without getting tired, increasing productivity.

– Capable of handling dangerous or repetitive tasks, reducing risks to humans.

– Programmable to adapt to different tasks and production requirements easily.

– Can operate in harsh environments that may be difficult for humans.

 

Disadvantages of Robotic Arms

– High initial cost of acquisition and installation.

– Require complex programming and maintenance, needing skilled technicians.

– May cause job losses in some cases as they replace certain human tasks.

– Limited in their ability to handle complex and unstructured situations compared to humans.

– Breakdowns can lead to significant disruptions in production.

The Future of Robotic Arms

The future of robotic arms looks very promising. Here are some aspects:

Increased Automation: They will play an even more crucial role in various industries, further enhancing manufacturing and production processes.

Greater Dexterity and Agility: Robotic arms will become more dexterous, capable of handling complex tasks with greater ease and precision.

Advancement in AI and Machine Learning: This will allow them to learn and adapt to new situations, improving their performance and functionality.

Integration with Other Technologies: Such as the Internet of Things (IoT), to enable better communication and coordination.

 

Expansion into New Sectors: Beyond traditional manufacturing, they will enter areas like healthcare, logistics, and services.

Enhanced Human-Robot Collaboration: Working closely with humans to achieve more efficient and productive operations.

Improved Safety Features: Ensuring safe interaction with humans in the workplace.

Miniaturization: Making them more accessible and applicable in smaller-scale environments.

As technology progresses, robotic arms will continue to evolve and transform the way we live and work.

Human-Robot Interaction

Human-robot interaction refers to the communication and cooperation between humans and robots. It has the following key points:

On one hand, robots are designed to interact with humans in a more intuitive and natural way. They can understand human instructions, gestures, and expressions through various sensors and recognition technologies. This enables humans to easily control and communicate with robots.

On the other hand, robots also provide feedback to humans, such as visual or audible cues, to keep humans informed of their actions and status. In some cases, robots can adapt their behaviors based on human reactions and needs.

In human-robot interaction, safety is of paramount importance to ensure the well-being of humans. Additionally, the emotional connection and trust between humans and robots are being gradually explored and developed to improve the quality of interaction.

This field is constantly evolving, aiming to achieve seamless and efficient cooperation between humans and robots in various applications, including manufacturing, healthcare, and daily life, to bring more convenience and innovation.