Top 10 Applications of Robotics in the Manufacturing Sector

Manufacturing has been an innovator in adopting new technologies for decades. All technologies, including IoT, cloud, and Artificial Intelligence, provide significant value to manufacturers. Robotics is now a key component of manufacturing processes thanks to technological advances.

Robotics is gaining popularity thanks to the increased interest of major manufacturers and the high demand for heavy-payload robots. Robotics is now used in many industries to improve efficiency.

Its entry into the manufacturing industry is particularly noteworthy. Henry Ford, for example, inherited stationary robot units that were positioned “behind a fence” away from people. This allows robots to perform their tasks without causing harm to workers. These robots are very energetic and never get tired. This is the essence of efficiency.

Top 10 Robotics Applications in the Manufacturing Sector

1. Arc welding

Arc welding refers to the use of mechanized, programmable tools (robots). These automate the welding process by performing both the welding and handling the parts. Gas metal arc welding is a process that can be automated but not automatically.

A human operator may prepare the materials to weld. Robot welding is used in high-production applications such as the manufacturing sector, for resistance spot welding and arc welding.
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2. Dispensing

Vehicle manufacturers use painting robots to detail their vehicles consistently and systematically. The industrial paint robots were designed to standardize the path and distance the sprayer follows. Manual spraying eliminates human error and reduces the chance of human error. To maximize efficiency and consistency, paint robots can be paired with other automated painting equipment.

3. Spot welding

Spot welding, also known as resistance spot welding, is an electric resistance welding process that uses heat from resistance to electricity to join contacting metal surfaces. Two copper alloy electrodes are used to concentrate the welding current and clamp the sheets together. The electrodes hold the work-pieces together.

4. Material handling

Robots are increasingly being used to manage a wider range of products, from blood samples to large containers. This includes products and materials that need stability or potentially dangerous products that can be contaminated if they come into contact with people.

Robots do not get tired, make mistakes or become distracted while performing their primary functions. This reduces the risk of human workers being injured. Robots can do more work, so fewer people are needed to supervise the operation.
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5. Inspection

Inspections to identify cracks, flaws, and delaminations, corrosion, or other harmful changes are the most important part of maintenance work. Robotics is also being used in this area of factory operations. A robot will position a sensor to detect the workpiece and then determine if it complies with quality standards.

6. Repetitive work cycles

A robot can usually perform the work cycle more consistently and reliably than a human worker if the sequence of the elements is consistent. Higher product quality is usually achieved when a robot performs the work cycle with greater consistency and repeatability than if it were a manual operation.

7. Parts

Robots can integrate parts into various production subsystems, which is a critical application. This allows robots to work more efficiently and faster, thus increasing production rates. Robots are currently used to tighten bolts and nuts and place components in circuit boards. Logic devices can be used to identify and rectify inconsistencies or defects.
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8. Assembling

The assembly robot is used to streamline industrial processes and increase production capacity in the manufacturing industry. A robot that can be used to build an assembly line can significantly increase productivity and ensure consistency.

These robots also make it easier for workers to avoid repetitive and boring tasks on the assembly line. Each robot can have its end of arm tooling to meet manufacturing needs.

9. Internal logistics

In a factory setting, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), and other automated vehicles such as forklifts can be used to move raw materials from storage areas to the floor. For example, in Spain, Ford Motor Co. adopted AMRs from Mobile Industrial Robots to replace a manual process.

10. Robotic Vision

An industrial robot arm that has “eyes” can see what it is doing can perform more precise work. The robot wrist is equipped with a laser and camera array, which gives it instant feedback.

Because robots know exactly where a part is, they can perform correct offsetting. Robotic vision makes it easier to install door panels, windshields, and fenders with greater accuracy than regular robot arms.
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Conclusion

Component manufacturing is a common use for robots. Product assembly is a possible area for expansion. Robots were unable to perform the tasks of replacing human hands before this technology was developed. With technologies such as multi-axis arms movement, robotic equipment can replicate human dexterity.

These can be reconfigured quickly to meet today’s shorter product lives. This increases efficiency and decreases production times. The manufacturing market for robotics was valued at US$28.9million in 2019.

It is expected to grow at a 9.5% CAGR between 2020-2025. Current production improvement policies include the introduction of automated solutions and the development of a variety of production control techniques.