Artificial Intelligence
Five mechanical structures and three key components of industrial robots
Industrial robots are a key segment of the robotics industry, accounting for approximately 80% of the global robot market. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), robots are broadly categorized into industrial and service robots. While service robots are gaining traction, industrial robots remain dominant due to their widespread use in manufacturing and automation.
In terms of mechanical structure, industrial robots come in various forms, each designed for specific tasks. The five main types include single-axis robots, right-angle coordinate robots, SCARA (Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm) robots, vertical articulated robots, and parallel (DELTA) robots. Each has unique characteristics that make them suitable for different applications.
Single-axis robots are simple in design, typically using either ball screw or synchronous belt drive systems. They are commonly used for positioning, transfer, and handling tasks across industries like semiconductors, automotive, and medical. These robots can be combined to create multi-axis systems, enhancing their versatility.
Right-angle coordinate robots operate along X, Y, and Z axes, making them ideal for pick-and-place operations. They are widely used in injection molding machines, assembly lines, and automated warehouses. In Taiwan, several companies have established themselves as leaders in this field, with Alfa and Apex being notable names.
SCARA robots are known for their speed and precision, making them ideal for high-speed assembly in electronics and food processing. With four degrees of freedom, they are particularly useful in 3C (consumer electronics, communications, and computers) industries. Major manufacturers include EPSON, IAI, and DENSO, while domestic brands like Delta and Dongyouda are also making strides.
Vertical articulated robots, often six-axis, offer high flexibility and are widely used in automotive and electronics manufacturing. Despite advancements in local production, critical components such as harmonic reducers are still largely imported, affecting cost competitiveness.
Parallel (DELTA) robots are fast and precise, ideal for high-speed sorting and packaging. Their lightweight and compact design allow them to replace multiple workers, improving efficiency and reducing labor costs. They are commonly found in food, pharmaceutical, and electronics sectors.
Beyond mechanical structures, three core components define an industrial robot: reducers, servo motors, and controllers. Together, these components make up about 60–70% of the total cost of a robot. Reducers, which control speed and torque, are dominated by Japanese manufacturers like Nabtesco and Harmonic Drive. Servo motors provide power and movement, with leading suppliers including Panasonic, Yaskawa, and Mitsubishi. Controllers act as the "brain" of the robot, integrating hardware and software to ensure smooth operation and stability.
Major global players like ABB, FANUC, KUKA, and Yaskawa develop their own controllers, while companies like EPSON and DENSO focus on specialized robotic solutions. In Taiwan, firms like ITRI and Advantech Baoyuan have made significant progress in the controller market, contributing to the region's growing influence in the robotics industry.
As the demand for automation continues to rise, the industrial robot sector is expected to expand rapidly, driven by technological innovation and increasing adoption across diverse industries.
Plano-convex cylindrical lenses feature a single plano and single convex cylindrical surface, while their focal length is positive. These lenses operate only in one dimension rather than two, compared to plano-convex spherical lenses.
Plano convex cylindrical lenses are utilized to compress light in 1 axis. In order to generate a line image from a point of light and to change the aspect ratio of an image, a positive (convex) Cylindrical Lens is used. It is also applied to focus collimated input light to a line. Plano convex cylindrical lenses are normally used for line detector arrays, anamorphic beam shaping, laser projection, laser line focusing, and illumination of slit.
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