Jointed robots, also known as articulated arm robots or articulated robotic arms, are one of the most common forms of industrial robots used in industry today. It is suitable for mechanical automation in many industrial fields, such as automatic assembly, painting, handling, welding, etc.
The so-called axis of an industrial robot can be explained by the technical term "degrees of freedom". It is reasonable to assume that when the number of axes of a robot increases, the robot will have more flexibility. Four-axis SCARA robots (hereafter referred to as four-axis robots) and six-axis articulated robots (hereafter referred to as six-axis robots) are designed specifically for high-speed pick-and-place operations, while six-axis robots offer greater flexibility in production movements.
Axes are closely related to the cartesian coordinate system. A three-axis robot, also known as a Cartesian or Cartesian robot, has three axes that allow the robot to move in the direction of the three axes, while the six axes in a six-axis robot are the X Y Z axes of the Cartesian coordinate system and the U V W axes that rotate around the X Y Z axes.
Four-axis robots
The four-axis is designed for high-speed pick-and-place operations, but the six-axis, with two more axes, offers a higher degree of flexibility. Among small assembly robots, "four-axis robot" means "selective assembly joint robot arm", which means that the arm part of the four-axis robot can move freely in one geometric plane. The first two joints of the quad-axis arm can rotate freely from side to side in the horizontal plane, and the third joint consists of a metal rod and gripper called a feather (quill). This metal rod can be moved up and down in the vertical plane or rotated around its vertical axis, but cannot be tilted.
This unique design gives quad-axis manipulators great rigidity, which allows them to perform high speed and highly repetitive tasks. In packaging applications, four-axis robots excel at high-speed pick-and-place and other material handling tasks.
Six-axis robots
Six-axis robots have two more joints than four-axis robots and therefore have more "freedom of movement". The first joint of a six-axis robot can rotate freely in the horizontal plane like a four-axis robot, and the last two joints can move in the vertical plane. In addition, the six-axis robot has one "arm" and two "wrist" joints, giving it human-like arm and wrist capabilities.
The additional joints of the six-axis robots mean that they can pick up parts facing any direction in the horizontal plane and place them in the packaged product at a particular angle. Perform many operations that can only be done by skilled workers. And they can save money on labor, making them a great choice for companies that are just starting out.
Four-axis and six-axis robots can also be collectively called "automation". Automation technology can not only liberate people from heavy physical labor, some mental labor and harsh and dangerous working environment, but also expand the functions of human organs, greatly improve labor productivity and enhance human's ability to understand and transform the world.
Robotics Automation Packaging Application Guide Integrating robotics in packaging lines and enabling its application is actually not as complicated, dangerous and costly as some people think, but rather very easy and safe, and may also gain economic advantages.
