Composite Robotic Arms

For the last 5 years, the number of industrial robots used in factories is increased considerably. Therefore, production times for automated lines have become crucial for companies. Composite materials can provide innovation for these industrial automation lines comes with challenging material characteristics.

Carbon composite robotic arm can replace with aluminium arms gradually. Besides making lighter robotic arm, carbon fibre also makes robotic arm stronger. Therefore, replacing robotic arms with composite material can increase robot performance as well.

Can industrial robots adapt composite robotic arm?

Industrial robotic and automation technologies are now trending with industry 4.0. Industrial robots are increasing in infrastructures and production lines of factories. They are mostly used on press lines to carry parts between press machines.

Some researches showed that composite robot arms increase the performance and manoeuvrability of the arm. In addition, demand for composite arm over steel alternatives is also increasing by many companies.

How is Carbon Fiber Effect the Arm?

The robot structures should have high rigidity (stiffness/density) to give the robot manipulator fast manoeuvrability and high positional accuracy. Also, it should have a high damping ratio in order to resist vibrations. Traditional materials such as steel and aluminium can not achieve a high strength-to-weight ratio and have the same damping ratio as composites. However, carbon fibre reinforced polymers have bot high damping ratio and high strength to weight ratio.

On the other hand, the manoeuvrability of the composite arm can help the production line to be faster. Thus, composites can decrease the production time owing to the material properties. Consequently, production time is one of the most important things in production, it affects all the system as well as the robot.