MT Magazine January/February 2023

THE BIG PICTURE

AUTOMATION ISSUE

18

AUTOMATION IN THE WORKPLACE

COLLABORATIVE ROBOTS (COBOTS) ARE DESIGNED TO MAXIMIZE SAFETY & PRODUCTIVITY Source: wevolver.com/article/designing-collaborative-robots-maximizing-productivity-and-safety

Safety-Rated Monitored Stop

Hand Guiding

During the operation, a worker is in direct contact with the robot arm and can utilize hand controls to move it. This operation is used for lift assists or highly variable “tool” applications.

A safety-rated monitored stop is an assured robot stop without removing power and occurs when a human worker enters the collaborative workspace.

Speed and Separation Monitoring

Force and Torque Limitations

Slower

Stop

Speed monitoring allows the operator and robot to move simultaneously within the workplace by equipping the robot with sensors to monitor its proximity and closeness to the worker.

Limitations are required where there could be intentional or unintentional contact between a cobot (or any workpiece) and a worker when both are working in the collaborative workspace.