Series 500: Robotics
Course 501: Introduction to Robotics
Covers the background for a detailed study of robot maintenance. Introduces the trainee to the basics of robotics, using clear, easy-to-follow language to take the mystery out of this growing technology.
Lesson 1 - Robotics in Automated Manufacturing
Topics:
History of robotics; Industrial robots; Robots in automated manufacturing; Mass-production systems; Batch manufacturing
Learning Objectives:
- Cite an example from history to show that some elements of robot technology were present in manufacturing more than 100 years ago..
- Identify and describe the reasons why robots did not appear in large numbers in manufacturing until the late 1970s.
- State the Robot Industries Association's definition of an industrial robot and explain the two key words.
- Explain, and give an example of, how industrial robots are used in mass production manufacturing systems which utilize transfer lines.
- Describe how industrial robots are used in batch production systems which utilize the traditional job-shop and flexible manufacturing systems. Give two or more examples.
Lesson 2 - The Basic Robot System
Topics:
Robot arm; Controller; Power source; Tooling; Teaching devices; Data storage devices; Work envelopes; Programming
Learning Objectives:
- Name and describe the basic building blocks of an industrial robot.
- Name and describe the additional components that make up a robot system.
- Define the following robot terms: degree of freedom, position axes, orientation axes, work envelope, tool center point.
- Define and give an example of the following specifications for industrial robots: payload, repeatability, memory capacity, environmental requirements.
- Explain the difference between accuracy and repeatability in robots.
Lesson 3 - Robot Classification I
Topics:
Industry classifications, Classification by control system; application; Open-loop and closed-loop control; Control advantages and disadvantages
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the six groups into which industrial robots can be classified.
- Explain the distinction between robots with closed-loop control and those with open-loop control.
- Describe the techniques used in closed- and open-loop systems to move the end-of-arm tooling to the programmed point.
- List the advantages and disadvantages of open- and closed-loop control in robot systems.
- Distinguish between assembly or nonassembly robots according to the applications for which they were designed.
Lesson 4 - Robot Classification II
Topics:
Classification by arm geometry, path control, intelligence level, and power source; Rectangular; Cylindrical; Spherical
Learning Objectives:
- Classify robots by arm geometry, power source, and path control technique.
- Identify the three basic robot work envelopes and name the arm geometries that produce them.
- Name the three power sources used for robot motion and give an advantage and disadvantage of each.
- identify the two basic path-control techniques and describe their characteristics.
Lesson 5 - Work-Cell Sensors
Topics:
Contact and noncontact sensors; Photoelectric, proximity sensors; Complex sensor interface; Complex process control sensors
Learning Objectives:
- List the two types of interfaces and three groups of sensors used in industrial robot systems.
- Describe the primary simple contact sensor commonly found in robot systems.
- Identify and explain the operation of the two simple noncontact sensors used in industrial robot installations.
- Explain the difference between the simple sensor interface and complex sensor interface.
- Identify and describe visual and tactile sensors and the systems required to support them.
Lesson 6 - End-of-Arm Tooling
Topics:
Tooling terms; Power sources; Tooling overview; Grippers; Vacuum, magnetic, and flexible pneumatic devices; Special-purpose tools and devices
Learning Objectives:
- Name the five general requirements that all tooling must satisfy.
- Identify and describe briefly the four basic tooling power sources.
- Identify the six categories of end-of-arm tooling used in robot applications.
- Identify and describe examples of the end-of-arm tooling included in the following categories: standard grippers, vacuum devices, magnetic devices, flexible pneumatic devices, special-purpose tools, and special-purpose devices.
Lesson 7 - Robot Teaching Techniques
Topics:
Controller functions; Program elements; Program commands; Arm motion; Task point diagram; On-line, off-line programming
Learning Objectives:
- List and describe the four basic functions of the computer(s) controlling an automated work cell.
- Explain the two fundamental elements of all industrial robot programs.
- Describe mainline and supporting sequences in a robot program and give an example of a conditional branching command.
- Name and describe two basic methods of robot teaching.
- Define on-line programming and explain how its chief disadvantage can be reduced by some programming methods.
