Material Handling Robots
Material handling robots are programmable mechanical devices used in assembly lines, production processes and loading applications to replace manual labor and increase efficiency and accuracy. They simplify the production process and reduce the margin of error considerably in the assembly, packaging and manufacturing industries. These robots are used to load and unload products onto pallets, transfer parts from one machine to another, order pick and package materials and products. They have replaced jobs that are tedious and repetitive, and are used when the parts are so small they are difficult for human hands to grab, as in the fiber optic industry, when they are too heavy to lift easily, as in the automotive industry, and when the parts are too breakable and a machine can provide more gentle handling than a worker.
Specifications for material handling robots include the number of axes, load capacity, reach and the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis travel distance. Their joints are rotary or prismatic and powered by hydraulics, pneumatics or electricity. They are generally robotic arms with a magnet or hook for picking up parts that are mounted on the ceiling, wall, floor or mobile device that uses treads, tracks or wheels, and can be relocated easily. They can be purchased new or used, and although they are an expensive investment, over time robotic machines save more money than hiring workers. Depending on their specific applications, material handling robots are composed of one to three arms with multiple joints.