By Nigel Smith, CEO of TM Robotics
Robots aren’t always given a favourable representation in pop culture. In Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, homicidal supercomputer HAL 9000 demonstrates how a robot could conspire against its human colleagues.
Thankfully, industrial robots aren’t quite as menacing. Here, Nigel Smith, managing director of Toshiba Machine distributor, TM Robotics, gives advice to manufacturers to make their first robotic investment.
Pop culture aside, robots don’t disappoint. After their first industrial robot installation, manufacturers come back to TM Robotics time and time again to add further automation to their factories.
Given that robots boost productivity, profitability and quality, it’s no surprise they are rife. In fact, it is estimated three million industrial robots will be in use globally by 2020, according to the International Federation of Robotics.
Unfortunately, small-to-medium sized manufacturers are often unwilling to invest in their very first robot – after all, they are hardly inexpensive. Thankfully, taking the automation plunge doesn’t have to be a worrisome process.
Choosing your machine
First things first, what do you want your robot to do? The desired application will determine which kind of robot is required.
A SCARA robot, for instance, would be most suited for compact pick-and-place operations; whereas palletising applications may require a six-axis machine that boasts a heavy payload.
That said, several factors should be contemplated beyond robot type. They include the operation, payload, number of axes, reach, accuracy, cycle time, and inertia.
The Ingress Protection (IP) rating should also be taken into account, a metric used to define the sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against foreign bodies like dirt and moisture.
Careful calculation of these nine parameters should be the first step of any robot investment.
Making your purchase
Similarly, budgets shouldn’t be estimated. Robot investments often go far beyond the initial price tag.
As well as the purchasing cost, factories may need to create a segregated work cell or buy additional power units before a robot can be deployed.
Not to mention variable expenditures – such as labour, energy, materials and ongoing maintenance – that are required to operate the robot long-term.
Don’t be afraid to ask for guidance when determining the cost and nine parameter requirements of your robot.
Robot suppliers aren’t like the used car salesmen of the automation world – and any that behave in such a way should be actively avoided.
Programming your robot
Parting with your cash isn’t necessarily the most daunting part of a robot investment, however. Instead, a common objection from manufacturers is unfamiliarity with programming languages.
While installing a robot usually isn’t as simple as plug-and-play, most don’t require a huge amount of programming knowledge, either.
Powerful but simple simulation tools with offline programming function can be beneficial. However, it is also vital to decide who will be responsible for maintaining the robot and ensuring they are trained.
Opting for an easy-to-program robot software, like that provided by TM Robotics, the end user can benefit from extensive training to ensure that robot programming and control is simple, even for engineers embarking on their first industrial robot project.
Kubrick’s representation of a malicious robot in 2001: A Space Odyssey may not be entirely accurate in today’s manufacturing world. And, fortunately, your first robot purchase doesn’t have to be quite so intimidating.
