THE IMPORTANCE OF MATERIALS IN INDUSTRIAL ROBOTICS

Throughout history, humans have discovered and developed ways to manipulate materials in order to create and build the world around them. As technology progressed, our understanding of these materials has led to breakthroughs in production and sustainability, which has benefited society greatly. Therefore, a strong understanding of materials is essential for any manufacturing environment to operate. Whether the results are structural or product-based, each industry must comply with and meet specific requirements to deliver a safe and reliable product. Hence, the use of Strength of Materials is a key aspect of all manufacturing processes.

Strength of Materials

Strength of Materials refers to the mathematics used to calculate stresses and strains in a working material. In other words, it is the process used to determine if a product or structure will fail during its use. When designing structures or products, architects and engineers carefully choose their working materials based on the forces which the product/structure would be subject to during its lifetime. Strong and durable materials should be chosen to ensure a long product lifespan and resistance to general wear and tear. Metal is one of the most common materials used in industries due to its diverse capability to sustain loads and forces. It is great for structural components (beams, trusses, etc.) and products under a heavy workload.

By designing and developing a product to incorporate the correct and strong materials, a manufacturer can reap many benefits. Damage, as well as wear and tear, can cause considerable costs for an industry. The cost to repair a structure or piece of equipment can often be higher than building it with the correct materials in the first place. This will save a company a great deal of cash which can be used on other investments. In a commercial scenario, selling a customer a reliable structure or piece of equipment will give the company a good reputation, often attracting more customers. Good materials make good products. On the other hand, there are many consequences if a manufacturer utilizes cheap materials in production. It is a company’s responsibility to ensure a product is capable and long-lasting in its field of application or run the risk of failures, customers complaints and returns, or worst of all casualties.

In industrial robotics, engineers have made it their purpose to ensure a robot is equipped with and composed of strong materials and a reliable framework. Industrial robots are subjected to many hazardous tasks which involve repeated motions, heavy payloads, etc. These robots (along with all engineered products and structures) have a Factor of Safety that guarantees that their structure will stay intact under a certain payload or force. However, a section that is often not discussed is the strength and reliability of a robot’s environment. Due to a large number of quick linear or rotary motions, an industrial robot must be equipped with a strong anchoring system or robotic cell which is capable of withstanding vibrations and the accelerations of the robot’s movement.

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