Collaborative robots have been in the market for years now. They are a safer alternative to traditional industrial robots. There has been tremendous growth in the use of collaborative robots as technology advances. One of the sectors collaborative robots were first adapted is the manufacturing sector.
Difference between collaborative robots and industrial robots
The main difference between collaborative robots and industrial robots is the ability of collaborative commercial robots to work alongside humans. With traditional industrial robots, the manufacturing plant needed to create a caged environment for a robot to be useful. Industrial robots lacked the intelligence to safely work alongside humans, which made it a potential risk for human workers.
Industrial robots can be automated to handle very dangerous tasks like working high temperatures, sharp tools or large objects. The large industrial robot cages restrict human workers from interacting with the industrial robot. The only time a human worker can go into the cage is for maintenance services. This will require the industrial robot processes to be stopped for maintenance to be possible.
On the other hand, collaborative robots come in rounded designs that include force limitations which limit the chances of injury to human workers. There is no need for barricades for collaborative robots. The technology used in collaborative robots works in a way that the cobot will identify the presence of a human worker and stop operations if there is a possibility of injury. It will resume operations once there is a safe distance from the human worker. Collaborative robots have other safety features that make them the ideal choice for operations industrial robots cannot be used for.
Applications of collaborative robots in modern-day manufacturing
Cobots in automotive supply chain
In the past, industrial robots were used in automotive manufacturing to perform high-speed tasks behind cages. Recently, more automotive manufacturing companies are adopting the use of collaborative robots because of their ability to work alongside humans. Cobots can deliver highly repetitive tasks with accuracy and speed. You can use cobots for machine tending, material handling, test and inspection performance, and even packaging.
Cobots in electronics manufacturing
Collaborative robots are made with in-built sensing capabilities that make them perfect for the electronics manufacturing sector. You can use cobots for delicate tasks such as handling electronic components, handling expensive parts and protecting fragile electronics parts. Collaborative robots can easily be programmed and deployed in any environment in the manufacturing plant. This makes them reliable, efficient and cost-effective in the long run. You can rely on cobots for PCB handling and In-Circuit testing.
Cobots in general manufacturing
Seasonal demands and changes in customer expectations and needs are some of the factors that significantly affect the manufacturing sector. Keeping up with market demands means that a manufacturing plant needs to increase the staff numbers to remain competitive. This is not sustainable in the current economic conditions. This is why collaborative robots are the best choice for general manufacturing companies. With collaborative robots, your company will be able to meet market demands for your product without the need to hire more employees. Collaborative robots can be programmed to perform highly repetitive tasks, as well as multiple tasks at the same time. This way, you will boost your bottom line while cutting the cost of operations.
Cobots in metal fabrication
The metal fabrications industry is a dirty, dull and potentially dangerous type of work. It can become hard to find humans workers dedicated to this sector in manufacturing. With collaborative robots, you can be sure that metal fabrication jobs are done to the best standards. Deploying a cobot to work in you metal fabrication section will reduce the number of accidents from this line of work while at the same time freeing your workers to handle other more important areas of the business. You can use cobots for loading and unloading parts and even machine tending.
Collaborative robots are the best invention for the manufacturing industry. With these robots, you can be sure to boost your ROI, lower your cost of operation and make work in your manufacturing plant easier.