Drives & Controls September 2022

50 n ROBOTICS September 2022 www.drivesncontrols.com What you need to know when sourcing robot components I ncorporating robots into production lines – and sourcing the necessary components – requires a lot of planning, preparation and research. Robots are available in many shapes and sizes with each one providing different strengths depending on your application. Along with that, there are components and equipment to consider. End-of-arm-tooling (EOAT), or end-effectors, are arguably the most important part of a robot. This is where the work is performed. Selecting the right components here will determine the effectiveness of the robot in your application. EOAT covers grippers, welding guns, sprayers, grinders, waterjet cutting andmore. There are basic EOAT products that can be purchased off- the-shelf, as well as highly customised products designed by the manufacturer to meet a customer’s unique specifications. Visual inspection Robots have come a long way in how they operate. In the past, robots were programmed to move from one co-ordinate to another without the ability to move away from the programmed path, and were unable to adapt to items that were not where the robot expected them to be. Nowadays, robots are often equipped with one or more cameras that are connected to a computer, enabling the robot to react to products that vary in shape and size, and may be located outside of the original pre- programmed location. Today’s vision systems can detect colour, form, shape, dimensions, temperature and more. They are used widely to sort and inspect for quality with much greater accuracy than their human counterparts. Because robot vision systems are so versatile and flexible, choosing the appropriate vision system for your application can be difficult. You can narrow down your search by considering some basic considerations: Camera: Different types of cameras will be needed, depending on the vision system’s role, which might include counting items, detecting foreign matter or defects, gauging dimensions or checking positions. 2D vs. 3D: If your robot application needs simply to pick up a part and move it to another location with high repeatability, then 2D is probably your best option. But if the robot needs to distinguish orientation, or to select from an assortment of parts, then 3D is probably your best bet. Speed: Another consideration is processing speed. While some cameras can process images internally, if the robot requires fast identification of parts and needs to move products quickly from one place to another, you will probably need an external processor. Safety There are many aspects of safety you need to consider when installing a robot. For example: n When using collaborative robots (cobots), workers will be walking into and around the arc of the robot swing. In such cases, zones will need to be created to determine the speed at which the robot can move safely. These are frequently set up with a safety scanner, which uses a laser beam to detect objects within a span of up to 360 degrees. n Light curtains can detect if an obstruction such as a person’s arm or leg has entered a field that could result in an injury. n Presence-sensing devices such as mats and operator presence triggers can determine if a person is in a potentially hazardous area, and can shut down the robot to prevent injuries. There are many things to think through when sourcing robotic components. As well as selling robot kits and components, Digi-Key is also implementing many of these ideas in its own operations to enable future scalability. n Specifying the peripheral components for robot installations is as important as the arms themselves, as Eric Halvorson, partnership marketing manager for strategic programmes at Digi-Key Electronics, explains. End-of-arm tools, such as grippers, are one of the most important aspects when specifying robot installations Delta robots are typically used for high-speed pick-and-place operations Selecting the right components determine how effective a robot will be in an application