Industrial Robot & Automation Equipment Control and Power Harness

This article introduces the relevant knowledge of industrial robot harness, mobile guide rail and 3D modeling in detail, including their functions, selection methods, installation and maintenance precautions and common brands. The industrial robot harness is responsible for connecting various components, transmitting signals and energy; the mobile guide rail ensures the precise movement of the robot; 3D modeling is the core design link of the robot. When selecting, you need to consider the robot’s working environment, task requirements, ecc., pay attention to standardized operation during installation, and regular inspection and maintenance during maintenance. If you have any supplements or comments, please feel free to contact us, thank you.

Key Aspects of Industrial Robot & Automation Equipment Control and Power Harnesses:
Function:
These harnesses facilitate smooth communication and power distribution for various robotic components, including arms, grippers, end effectors, and motion control systems.
Components:
They connect PCBs, components, and actuators within the robot, ensuring reliable signal integrity and power delivery.
Types of Applications:
Industrial robots are used in various applications, including machine tending, material handling, assembly, inspection, welding, and finishing.
Materials and Durability:
The harnesses are designed to withstand harsh industrial environments, including chemicals, oils, solvents, and repeated flexions and torsions.
Examples of Companies:
Companies like RPI, Axon, and TE Connectivity offer solutions for robotic automation wiring, including robotic arm wiring harnesses.
Benefits:
These harnesses enhance productivity, reduce cycle times, and improve the overall efficiency of robotic operations.
Automation in Wire Harness Manufacturing:
Companies are pioneering automation in wire harness manufacturing by integrating robotics and advanced CAD/CAM systems.
Control Systems:
Industrial robot systems typically consist of a robot body, servo system, control system, and sensors, with the control system acting as the “brain” of the robot.

What is the role of industrial robot harness?

The industrial robot harness is a key component for connecting signal transmission and energy supply between various parts of the robot. Its main functions include:

1. Signal transmission: The harness contains various types of cables, such as control cables, data cables, sensor cables, ecc. These cables are responsible for accurately transmitting the command signals issued by the central controller or servo drive to the various joints, motors or other actuators of the robot, ensuring that the robot can move accurately according to the predetermined program.

2. Power supply: The power cable in the harness is responsible for providing a stable power supply for the robot system to drive the motor and other electrical components to work.

3. Protection and durability: Since industrial robots frequently move at high speed and twist greatly during operation, the wiring harness design needs to have high wear resistance, bending resistance, stretch resistance, oil resistance, high temperature resistance, flame retardancy, shock resistance and good insulation performance to ensure long-term stable operation in complex and harsh industrial environments and reduce failures caused by mechanical stress or environmental factors.

4. Integrated management: Through the form of pipe packages or wiring harnesses, many wires can be integrated together for easy installation, management and maintenance, while also keeping the robot’s appearance neat and tidy, improving production efficiency and safety.

In summary, the wiring harness of industrial robots is one of the basic guarantees for the normal operation of robots, and plays a vital role in the efficient, safe and reliable operation of the entire system.

What are the requirements of industrial robots for mobile guides?
The requirements of industrial robots for mobile guides include guiding accuracy, stiffness, resistenza all'usura, low-speed stability, vibration resistance, size and weight, and cost.

The requirements of industrial robots for mobile guide rails mainly include but are not limited to the following aspects:

1. High-precision positioning: The mobile guide rail needs to ensure high-precision position control during the robot’s movement, including repeated positioning accuracy and absolute positioning accuracy, to meet the precise positioning requirements of the robot when working.

2. Low clearance and stiffness: The guide rail system should have a very small running clearance or the ability to compensate for the clearance to ensure the stability of the robot during high-speed movement. At the same time, the guide rail needs to have high stiffness perpendicular to the direction of movement to reduce deformation caused by load changes.

3. Stable friction coefficient: The friction coefficient of the guide rail should be as low as possible and should not change significantly with factors such as speed and temperature, so as to ensure smooth and precise movement of the robot under different working conditions.

4. Wear resistance and life: Due to long-term continuous operation, the guide rail material should have good wear resistance and long life, and can withstand the test of frequent reciprocating motion and large loads.

5. Vibration resistance and stability: The guide rail system needs to effectively absorb vibration and maintain stability during operation to prevent the robot’s processing accuracy from decreasing or structural damage caused by vibration.

6. Integrated design: In order to facilitate installation and maintenance, mobile guide rails may require modular and integrated designs, such as integrated rack guide rails, which simplify installation and adjustment steps.

7. Environmental adaptability: According to the specific application environment, the guide rails also need to consider dustproof, waterproof, corrosion-resistant and other characteristics to ensure stable and reliable operation in various industrial environments.

8. Safety protection: Safety must also be considered in the design of the guide rails, such as equipping necessary safety limit devices and protective measures to prevent the robot from accidentally leaving the track or causing personal injury.

9. Compatibility and scalability: Mobile guide rails should be easy to integrate with other robot components and control systems, and support flexible configuration and expansion to adapt to different production line layouts and task requirements.

In summary, the requirements of industrial robots for mobile guide rails are mainly concentrated in high speed, high precision, high reliability, large load capacity, resistance to harsh environments, and easy installation, operation and maintenance.

What is industrial robot 3D modeling?
Industrial robot 3D modeling refers to the use of 3D design software (such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, ecc.) to create a 3D model of an industrial robot. In this process, designers can accurately represent the various components and overall structure of the robot for analysis, simulation and manufacturing. 3D modeling helps improve the design quality of the robot, reduce development costs and shorten the development cycle.

3D drawing (3D graphics or 3D model) refers to a graphic or model with three dimensions of length, width and height created by software in computer graphics. 3D graphics can more realistically represent objects and scenes in the real world, allowing people to observe and understand objects from multiple angles. 3D graphics are widely used in engineering design, games, movies, virtual reality and other fields.

In short, industrial robot 3D modeling is the process of creating a 3D model of an industrial robot using 3D design software, while 3D graphics refers to a graphic or model with three dimensions created in computer graphics. Both are closely related to computer-aided design (CAD) and help improve design efficiency and quality.

How to choose the right industrial robot harness, mobile guide rail, and 3D modeling?
When choosing the right industrial robot harness, mobile guide rail and 3D modeling solution, the following key factors need to be considered:

Industrial robot harness selection:

1. Electrical performance: Select the current carrying capacity of the harness according to the current demand of the robot to ensure that the cable can withstand the working current of the motor and other equipment. At the same time, the signal transmission cable should have low impedance and high shielding efficiency to ensure the accuracy and stability of data signal transmission.

2. Mechanical properties: The harness must have the characteristics of wear resistance, tensile resistance, torsion resistance, oil resistance, high temperature resistance, ecc. to meet the requirements of high-speed movement of the robot and use in complex environments.

3. Structural design: The harness should adopt a modular design for easy installation and maintenance, and the wiring path should be considered to avoid excessive bending at the joints to cause damage.

4. Safety certification: Ensure that the harness complies with relevant international or national standards, such as UL, CE and other certifications, to ensure electrical safety.

Mobile guide rail selection:

1. Accuracy requirements: According to the positioning accuracy requirements of the robot, select a linear guide or curved guide system with the corresponding accuracy level.

2. Load capacity: Consider the total weight of the robot and its end effector and the possible dynamic loads to ensure that the guide rail has sufficient load-bearing capacity and rigidity.

3. Stroke length and speed: Select a guide rail with a suitable stroke length according to the robot’s working range and running speed, and ensure that it can remain stable at high speeds.

4. Durability and maintenance: Select a wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant and easy-to-maintain guide rail material to ensure long-term stable operation and reduce maintenance costs.

5. Integration method: Consider how to effectively integrate the guide rail with the robot body and other mechanical equipment, including the design of connectors, limit switches and lubrication systems.

3D modeling selection:

1. Software function: Select CAD software with powerful mechanical design and simulation functions, such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, CATIA, ecc., which can support the creation of accurate industrial robot 3D models and motion simulation.

2. Compatibility: Ensure that the selected software is compatible with the data format in the robot controller, PLC or other automation control system to facilitate data exchange.

3. Ease of use and learning curve: Consider the user-friendliness and learning difficulty of the software. Intuitive interface and rich tutorial resources are very important, especially for non-professional designers.

4. Scalability: If complex dynamic analysis or finite element analysis is required, ensure that the selected software can support such advanced functions.

5. Industry standard support: Ensure that the software can follow the relevant mechanical design and manufacturing standards to facilitate the design results for production and manufacturing.

Each step of the choice should be based on the needs of the specific application, combined with the robot manufacturer’s recommendations and technical parameters, as well as the convenience of actual operation and maintenance.

5. What issues should be paid attention to in the installation and maintenance of industrial robot harnesses, mobile guides, and 3D modeling?

Installation and maintenance of industrial robot harnesses:

1. Installation:

○ Ensure that the cable length is appropriate to avoid excessive tension or small bending radius caused by too long or too short.

○ Follow a certain path planning when wiring to avoid excessive wear or uneven force on joints and rotating parts.

○ Wiring should be carried out strictly in accordance with electrical specifications to ensure that power lines, signal lines, ecc. are not confused, and the connection is firm and reliable.

○ Use special wire troughs or wire clamps to fix the wiring harness to prevent poor contact or damage caused by vibration.

○ After installation, conduct a comprehensive functional test and insulation resistance test to verify that the line is correct.

2. Maintenance:

○ Regularly check the appearance of the wiring harness for signs of damage, aging, and wear, and replace the damaged parts in time.

○ Clean the oil and dust on the cables, keep them dry and clean to prevent electrical failures.

○ Check whether the connectors are loose or corroded, tighten them if necessary and apply rust inhibitor.

○ For cables with shielding layers, regularly check the integrity of the shielding layer to ensure that the signal quality is not disturbed.

Installation and maintenance of mobile guide rails:

1. Installation:

○ Before installing the guide rails, ensure that the levelness of the work surface meets the requirements and ensure accuracy.

○ Correctly install components such as sliders and rollers according to the design drawings, and pay attention to adjusting the preload to achieve ideal rigidity and stability.

○ The guide rail lubrication system is configured according to the manufacturer’s recommendations to ensure good lubrication.

○ Install limit switches and other safety protection devices to prevent exceeding the travel range.

2. Maintenance:

○ Regularly clean the debris on the surface of the guide rail and its surroundings, especially metal chips, dust and other particles that may affect the smoothness of movement.

○ Check the wear between the guide rail and the slider, and add lubricating oil or replace worn parts as needed.

○ Regularly check the working status of the limit switch and brake device to ensure their normal function.

○ For guide rails running under high load, detailed performance testing and calibration should be carried out according to the maintenance cycle.

Maintenance of 3D modeling:

1. Model update:

○ When the actual equipment or process changes, the 3D model should be updated in time to reflect the actual situation to avoid design errors or production problems caused by the inconsistency between the model and the actual object.

2. Version control:

○ Establish an effective version control system to record the reasons and contents of each model modification for traceability and management.

3. Backup and recovery:

○ Regularly back up model files and store them in a safe place to prevent data loss.

○ Learn to use the software’s own or third-party tools to import and export models to facilitate the migration and sharing of models between different platforms.

4. Collaborative design:

○ If it involves multi-person collaboration, CAD software that supports collaborative work should be used to synchronize model change information to avoid conflicts.

In short, during the installation and maintenance of industrial robot harnesses, mobile guides, and 3D modeling, the requirements of the product manual should be followed, attention should be paid to detail processing, and regular inspections and maintenance should be performed to ensure the stability and reliability of the robot system.

Common brands of industrial robot harnesses include HARTING, Molex, JST, ecc. These brands provide various types of connectors and cables suitable for various industrial robots and automation equipment.

Industrial robot harness brands:

1. LEONI: A German brand that provides complete cable and harness solutions for industrial automation and robots.

2.SAB Bröckskes: Also from Germany, it produces high-quality special cables and customized robot harness systems.

3. Fischer Connectors: A Swiss brand that is used in the field of robot harnesses with its precise and reliable connector technology.

4. Binder: A professional German manufacturer whose M8/M12 circular connectors are widely used in harness connections for industrial robots and automation equipment.

5. Hirose Electric: A Japanese brand that provides high-reliability connectors and harness products for the industrial robot industry.

6. Molex: Provides a variety of electronic connection products, including harnesses and cable assemblies.

7. TE Connectivity: Provides a wide range of harness solutions to serve a variety of industrial applications.
8. 3M: Provides a variety of wire and cable products, as well as related connectivity solutions.