CdM - Industrial Robotics

Allows its tool to rotate around a central axis. The tool can also move towards and away from the central axis, plus up and down the central axis. This configuration creates a work-volume in the shape of a cylinder.

• Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arm (SCARA)

• Cartesian

• Cylindrical

• Spherical

This industrial robot configuration has the robot’s tool moving in a linear motion along each of the ______________coordinates (x, y, z). This type of configuration can sweep out a box-like work envelope.

• Spherical

• Cartesian

• Delta (Parallel)

• Articulated

The tool motion created by this configuration sweeps out a workspace shaped like a sphere. It has its tool rotate around a central axis, and the tool can also rotate around a second axis which is placed at a 90 degree angle on the central axis. In addition, the tool can move back and forth along an axis.

• Spherical

• Cartesian

• Articulated

• Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arm (SCARA)

This type of robot is the most commonly pictured when referring to an industrial robot. As a minimum, it needs to have at least a shoulder joint, an elbow joint, and a wrist joint. Many examples of these configurations can have both major and minor axes.

• Delta (Parallel)

• Spherical

• Cartesian

• Articulated

Can move the robot’s tool the fastest of all of the robot configuration types. It uses parallel linkages to allow its tool to quickly sweep out its workspace.

• Spherical

• Delta (Parallel)

• Cartesian

• Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arm (SCARA)

This type of actuator uses a pump to pressurize hydraulic fluid. Valves release the fluid through hydraulic hoses. The pressure in the hoses can cause the shaft of a hydraulic cylinder to move out or move in. The pressure in the hoses can also cause the shaft of a rotational hydraulic actuator to spin

• Pneumatic actuators

• Electrical Motors: Stepper Motors, and Servo Motors

• Hydraulic actuators

The actuators uses an air compressor to pressurize air. Valves release the air pressure through pneumatic tubing. The air pressure in the tubing can cause the shaft of a pneumatic cylinder to move out or move in. The pressure in the pneumatic tubing can also cause the shaft of a pneumatic rotary actuator to spin.

• hydraulics

• pneumatics

• Electrical Motors: Stepper Motors, and Servo Motors

• Valve release

These are actuators that convert electrical energy into rotational mechanical energy that causes a shaft to spin. There are electric motors that are powered by Direct Current (DC), such as the motor in a cordless drill. Electric motors can also be powered by Alternating Current (AC), such as all of the household appliances listed above.

• Voltage meters

• Pneumatics

• Hydraulics

• Electrical Motors: Stepper Motors, and Servo Motors

There are two ways in which an actuator can move a component on a robot. One way is to have an actuator directly connected to the component. This is called

• Actuator

• Direct drive

• Indirect drive

• Electric motors

Complete the sentence: For example, if a robot needs to lift a very ______ load it may use hydraulics. If it needs to move parts very ________it may use pneumatics. However, nearly all robots use some type of electric motor as an ________. These actuators may be powering the robot component either by a direct drive or an indirect drive.

• quickly, heavy actuators

• actuators, heavy, quickly

• heavy, quickly, actuators