TWI Industrial Member Report Summary 721/2001
G Verhaeghe, J Weston and N G Smith
Background
Market surveys carried out by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) and the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), showed increasing levels of orders for articulated robotic arms for 1998 and 1999, and the growth in sales is forecast to continue. Until now, the growth has mainly resulted from purchases in the automotive sector by the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), but increasingly small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are looking at the potential benefits of robot assisted manufacture and automation in general. Many of these businesses would benefit from guidance on those factors that will ensure successful implementation of a robotised or automated system.
This guide document addresses the key issues relating to installation and integration of robot systems. Many of these have general applicability to robotic systems and a range of activities or processes (such as handling, painting, welding or cutting). A separate chapter has been dedicated to robot systems for arc welding. The guidelines set out in the document were used during the installation of a new MIG/MAG welding robot cell at TWI.
Objectives
- To produce a guide document addressing the key issues related to the installation and integration of robot systems.
- To develop a demonstration robotic manufacturing cell based on the guidelines in the guide document