As advances in CNC Swiss machining and customized components address the fundamental physical realities of advanced automation.
The overwhelming source of headlines in robotics is almost entirely consumed by artificial intelligence, machine learning, and creative software concepts.
However, these digital abilities are only possible because the digital instructions are being applied to a physical machine that moves predictably, reliably, and accurately.
As robotics transitions from rigid industrial arms to collaborative partners, and from mobile agility to a lack of mobility, the physical transformation in technology through parts will first be felt.
This invisible revolution is evident everywhere in advanced processes such as CNC Swiss machining and automation parts machining, and machining specialized automation parts, these acts range from necessary to sports and augur new ways of progressing or “breakthrough” manufacturing.
The new world of automation is one where intelligent software is relevant to hardware and partnered with precision engineered hardware.
For OEMs and integrators, the choice of manufacturing partner has become much more important than a supply chain choice; it is critical to product performance, lifespan and opportunity.
The Precision Core: CNC Swiss Machining for Robotic Actuation
Usually the technology responsible for some of the most precision robotic movements, ultimately, had its origins in the watch making trades where small precision components (i.e. CNC Swiss machining) were required.
The distinguishing aspect of a Swiss-type lathe is a guide bushing that Lathe removes tool pressure and vibration enabling the manufacturing of high-performance long, narrow, complicated parts delivered rightfully in the context of complex parts the components of modern robotic systems demand.
This is important in a range of dramatic ways:
1. High-Performance Actuators
The ultimate challenge of cadets and reduce the overall size of the CNC Swiss screw machining process in moving actuator power, density creates actuators with complicated features (eg internal geometries and light weighting).
The only process possible for manufacturing these complicated shafts, sensor housings, and valving components – that meet the micron level tolerances for the system need to operate smoothly through its entire range and produce as little futility space as possible traveling through the actuator range flawlessly – is CNC Swiss screw machining.
Precise manufacturing of robot arm components are, plain and simple, depended on how precisely they were made.
2. Miniaturized Force Transmission
Harmonic drive parts and precision reduction systems depend on each part of each component having parts with extremely precise splines and gear profiles, any variability across part interfaces guarantees error in harmonic drives and precision reduction processes.
CNC Swiss precision machining establishes the world’s most effective guarantee; as ensured precision features, where important part features and interfaces fit precisely to concatenate backlashes very effectively to achieve an increasing cross-stream zero-backlash in robotic applications across any type of ISR from semiconductor to robotic surgery.
3. Sensor Positioning
Today, robotic systems contain considerable numbers of sensors, and the sensors on robotic arms are considerably complex including any number of mounting features and features requiring precision bores or tie-on back to especially components from measuring insides to creating equivalent implications for CNC Swiss lathe machining calling-out a design example clearly focused only on preceding conventional complexity and mistakes.
Clearly different examples that center directly upon – when closed – suspended back on to each other or machines more outright responsively, clearly conveyed regarding left misplacement/misalignment that left an evil “ghost” escaping into the corrupted input considerations used as spoiled denominator basis for positioning its the erroneous – brains” in our robotic systems.
The Automated Body: Specialized Machining of Structural and Effector Components
While Swiss machining helps with internal accuracy, general cnc machining for robotics covers robotic structure and functional components.
Manufacturers of dedicated robotics components need to master a wide range of processes in order to produce:
Linear Motion Systems
Linear motion guide parts must perform. No exceptions. These machines will include ballscrew nut housings and rail mounting blocks.
These precision parts for automation need to have extraordinary flatness, parallelism and bore accuracy, to avoid binding, allow smooth travel, and accomplish the claimed positional accuracy throughout millions of cycles.
Advanced End Effectors
The end effector is the physical connection of the robot to the work. Machining an end effector requires multiple capabilities: lightweight plus structural rigidity in aluminum parts manufacturing; machining precision jaws for gripping; and finishing complex internal passages for pneumatics, vision systems or routing electrical wiring.
The end effector machining process often uses extensive 5-axis milling and turning processes.
Mobile Robotics Components
Advancing the mobile robotics (AMRs) and drones reduces size, weight and power consumption. The engineering focuses even more on lightweighting and machining components from lighter weight and higher strength materials, such as magnesium or high strength aluminum alloys.
Manufacturing Foundations: Quality means Quality
Making components for automation is not machining. The difference is a quality first attitude and understanding end use dynamic loads.
Material Science
Selecting materials and successfully machining materials like 7075-T6 aluminum for strength, or 4140 pre-hardened steel for wear resistance is essential. The manufacturing process must not create excessive heat or stress that influences material properties during machining.
Metrology and Traceability
Complete inspection using CMMs and hand-held surface finish analyzers are standard practice.
For some robot arm actuator components where criticality requires a complete traceability, it is necessary to track from raw material lot to part finish for warranty quality assurance and root-cause analysis if any issue arises on site.
Design Partnership
The best plan is to engage the manufacturer in the design as early as possible.
An experienced partner can offer invaluable Design for Manufacturability (DFM) feedback with adjustments that can result in a more robust end product, solved assembly issues, and cost reduction for no performance penalty.
Conclusion: Engineering the Future, One Precision Component at a Time
The future of robotics is alive and well, heading toward an increasingly autonomous, collaborative and capable future. But all of this will rely upon a capability of improving the physical hardware that is used within these machines at the same pace.
CNC Swiss machining and specialized machining of automation parts is not an afterthought; it is a technology that converts the algorithmic capability of robots into the physical world.
By partnering with manufacturers that have expertise across these manufacturing disciplines, robotic companies can create products that are not only intelligent, but also durable, reliable and capable of meeting performance demands that define the future of automation.
Author Bio: Flamingo Peng is a senior manufacturing engineer focused on advanced applications of robotics and automation. At Falcon CNC Swiss, we are a leading provider of automation parts machining and CNC Swiss machining services providing precision components to innovators across the robotics sector.
