Automated equipment, such as industrial robots, assembly systems, and vision systems, make manufacturing more efficient and reliable. They can perform complex routines continuously without errors and can be used for assembly, packaging, and inspection. They can also provide safety, such as light curtains that switch off machines if blocked.
The many types of automated equipment include industrial robots, assembly systems, test equipment, vision systems, and safety equipment such as light curtains. Commonly used in the automotive, printed circuit board (PCB), and appliance industries that rely heavily on factory machinery, automated machines make manufacturing more efficient and reliable. Computer-controlled automation equipment can work continuously without errors. A robotic system, for example, can be programmed to perform the same complex routines over and over again with little human assistance.
Robots have revolutionized the world of industrial automation. Automated robotics systems include pick-and-place units that can be used in assembly, packaging and tooling in the form of sophisticated robotic work cells. These types of automated equipment can even run on compressed air, helping a factory adhere to stringent energy efficiency standards.
Other robotic equipment handles the dispensing of glue, liquids and other materials. Welding, assembling, packing and inspection are all processes automated by various complex machines. SCARA (Self-compliant Assembly Robot Arm) devices perform assembly of small parts and are programmable. To increase their flexibility, these arms can have up to six axles. They are often used for palletizing or placing items in specific locations for storage.
Automated assembly equipment can be used for high-speed assembly, cleaning and inspection of parts. This type of automated equipment is used to assemble circuit boards, build medical devices such as syringes, and inspect vials. A touchscreen interface allows the operator to program and operate the system. Internal robotic arms, spindles and cameras do all the work at the push of a button. The inspection capabilities of such an automated system can detect microscopic defects in things like circuit boards.
Integrated circuit (IC) quality analysis is a function of automated test equipment. Applications range from defect analysis to PCB function testing, while IC efficiency can also be analyzed using Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) boundary scan testers. Optical inspection provides a close-up visual analysis, while X-ray inspection allows inspectors to use automated equipment to see hidden components such as solder joints underneath the IC package.
Automated equipment is not limited to assembly and inspection, it can also provide safety. An example is the light curtain, which consists of beams of light and sensors. If the series of light beams, the curtain, is blocked, the system switches off automatically. Ideally, the machine’s reaction time should be instantaneous, as workers loading and unloading parts from high-speed machines can be seriously injured, and too long a reaction time can impact production.
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