OTC Insights Team
Established in 1963, OTC Industrial Technologies is one of the largest industrial distributors & service providers in the United States. We're committed to seeing industrial operations advance through expert technical solutions & unmatched support using our years of experience.
The demand on the supply chain and manufacturing is at an all-time high. Automation and manufacturing robots have become not only a tool for production improvement, but a gateway to company growth and success even in the face of market and business challenges.
The challenge is connecting the technology with your production and business needs. That requires an understanding of manufacturing robots and their capabilities, the different automation and robot types available, the implementation process and investment, and then how to maximize your investment.
What Are Manufacturing Robots?
Before deciding to implement manufacturing robots into your business and production, you should understand the capabilities and functionality of the systems.
Manufacturing robots typically handle repetitive tasks to streamline the workflow process. An armature or robotics system is managed by a programming system to perform a rote task under strict conditions.
For overly repetitious tasks that requires repeated, highly precise and accurate work, robots are the best solution available.
How Can Manufacturing Robots Benefit Production?
With a robotic system in place, production will increase. Robots don’t require breaks, lunch, or vacation. They won’t tire or make mistakes due to overwork or exhaustion. They can work continually, with only pauses to adapt to other production needs or to switch over the work that is being done. This will mean that more work can be done.
Robots also increase safety on the worksite. They won’t get injured and can perform the repetitive and physically demanding work that is the root cause of many workplace injuries. They are immune to many of the hazardous conditions that can increase risk for human workers.
The precision and accuracy that is a benefit of robotic work will also increase the quality and consistency of the product. The addition of sensors and an information capture system will allow for an automatic check on each product as work is completed.
The Types of Manufacturing Robots
Cartesian Robots
Cartesian robots, sometimes referred to as linear robots, work on three different axles that rely on the Cartesian Coordinate system and move strictly in straight lines. These robots provide extreme flexibility in terms of configuration and are commonly used in 3D printing applications.
SCARA Robots
SCARA robots also operate on a three-axis system and utilize rotary motion. The integration process of these robots tends to be easier than others. They are also capable of moving faster than other robots, providing a benefit to production speed.
Articulated Robots
Articulated robots resemble a human arm at first glance. These robots have joints which allow for an excellent range of motion. This allows them to perform more delicate work that requires manual dexterity from the robot.
Cylindrical Robots
Like articulated robots, cylindrical robots also have joints, with a rotary joint at the base in addition to a prismatic joint. These robots are extremely compact and are an excellent option for enclosed and tight spaces.
Delta Robots
Delta robots utilize three different arms attached to one base. Delta robots work very quickly and diligently on relatively complex operations due to their unique design.
Polar Robots
Polar robots have one arm with three different joints, with the arm connected to a base with a twisting joint. These are one of the oldest forms of manufacturing robots and they work well in a spherical work environment.
Collaborative Robots
Collaborative robots are designed to work in conjunction with humans in a safe, effective environment. Rather than replacing human work, they enhance it. There are many types of collaborative robots, but each is designed to work beside a human.
Making the Most of Your Investment in Manufacturing Robots
An investment in manufacturing robots for your business is an opportunity for improvement, increasing production and revenue while cutting down on costly expenses.
To ensure that a manufacturing robot is as efficient as possible, and you see an optimal return on your investment, you must be selective and precise with the tasks it is programmed to complete. Look not just at the robot you’ve purchased, but the operations and systems around it. Consider how work is received by the robot, and how work moves to the next operation. Look at not only investing in the robot, but the end-to-end operational solution.
Making the Purchase
After conducting research and evaluating all feasible options, if you have determined that manufacturing robots are the best option for your business to streamline repetitive tasks, look no further than OTC Industrial Technologies. With a wide variety of automation machinery, you are bound to find exactly what your business needs.
