{"id":28557,"date":"2022-04-22T14:51:12","date_gmt":"2022-04-22T04:51:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.machines4u.com.au\/mag\/?p=28557"},"modified":"2022-04-22T14:56:06","modified_gmt":"2022-04-22T04:56:06","slug":"applications-for-industrial-manipulators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.machines4u.com.au\/mag\/applications-for-industrial-manipulators\/","title":{"rendered":"The Virtually Unlimited Applications for Armtec Industrial Manipulators"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Presented by <\/span><\/i>Posilift Australia<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

Those in the processing and material handling industries are always finding new ways to improve efficiency and productivity. Industrial manipulators are not a new technology, but are one of the most underutilised in the industry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is this so? Because international product classifications are very broad and industrial manipulators are classified under the category of a \u201cLift Assist Device\u201d, which includes many lifting devices including cranes and hoists. But, industrial manipulators are much more than that.<\/span><\/p>\n

So what exactly is an industrial manipulator and how does this machinery solve so many handling problems for businesses? Let\u2019s take a look using the Australian Armtec manipulator as a guide.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Virtually Unlimited Applications of an Industrial Manipulator<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
Installing and Removing Variable Sized Knuckles on Trains<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Handling Common Sheets and Panels All Sizes and Weights Up to 600kg or more<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Removing and Stacking 300kg Polysilicon Rods<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Handling Common Rolls and Reels All Sizes and Weights Up to 600kg or more<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Some Examples of Armtec industrial manipulators  Sources: Supplied<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Armtec manipulator is a pneumatic industrial manipulator. The Armtec materials handling solutions are \u201c<\/span>Like A Robotic Arm But Guided By a Human\u201d<\/b>. Like a robotic arm, they can grip, lift, move, incline, rotate, and generally articulate in all directions and precisely position loads of all shapes, sizes, and weights. Unlike a robot, they are guided by a human.<\/span><\/p>\n

Their key design and operating features are to grip the load, balance it, and enable the load to be moved and articulated in any direction, in a weightless zero-gravity condition and be precisely positioned by the operator\u2014and do this with a minimal physical effort by the operator, with no risk of injury to the operator and no damage to the product. Posilift solutions always improve the operator\u2019s safety and working conditions, increase productivity and often turn a two-man job into a one-man job. Armtec manipulators comply with Australian Standards AS\/NZS 4024.1201:2014, and are not classified as a crane.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are virtually unlimited repetitive material handling problems that can be solved with an Armtec pneumatic industrial manipulator. Its many uses include the weightless and effortless lifting, moving and positioning of both common product shapes and sizes, as well as design-specific loads.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Manipulator
Manipulator attached to a scissor lift. Source: Supplied.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With over 30 years\u2019 experience in Australia and overseas, Posilift has designed and supplied a range of manipulator handling solutions for common parts including: rolls, reels, bags, panels and sheets, boxes, and drums. They also design specific handling solutions for general manufacturing industries and for specialist industries such as Automotive, Mining, and Defence sectors.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While some might think that it would be better to have fully autonomous robot arms, this isn\u2019t always the case. Even though full autonomy is highly efficient, not all repetitive handling is suited to fully autonomous robotic arms.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are a few examples where industrial manipulators shine compared to robots:<\/span><\/p>\n