Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-14

Without force-sensing technology, polishing and sanding applications cannot be developed. (Image: Flexiv)
Unveiling the Future of Robotic
Sanding and Polishing with
Material Abrasion Technology
T
he manufacturing landscape is undergoing a transformation,
propelled by the need for innovative, efficient, and precise
technology that can effectively replace expensive manual
labor. This article examines advancements in Flexiv's material
abrasion technology, specifically focusing on sanding and polishing
applications and the utility of force control technology.
The Unseen Hero: Precise and Durable Force
Sensors
One of the hallmark features that empowers the automated
material abrasion process is force sensors. Typically integrated
into end-of-arm sanding tools on traditional collaborative robots,
they provide the robot with the ability to feel the surface
it is interacting with and adjust the force it impacts to the
workpiece accordingly.
Adaptive robots use the same basic technology, but instead
of only using an end-of-arm force sensor, they use precise
torque sensors which are embedded in each of an adaptive
robot's seven degrees of freedom, along with a force sensor at
the end of the arm. This configuration enables the processing
of force data from multiple inputs, offering a more detailed
14
and nuanced understanding of how the end-of-arm tooling is
interacting with the workpiece.
This is only possible thanks to the development of proprietary
displacement sensing technology that provides adaptive
robot operators with two essential advantages:
* Stability and Accuracy: Resistance to thermal drift provides
improved precision.
* Durability: Designed to accommodate millions of overloading
cycles, the sensors are industry ready.
Compared to conventional strain gauge transducers, these
critical characteristics ensure reliable performance, even when
faced with thermal contraction and expansion fluctuations
that traditional gauges find challenging to accommodate.
Without force-sensing technology, polishing and sanding
applications cannot be developed. Knowing how much force
to apply to an object is critical, as is accommodating concave
and convex surface variations.
Flexibility Unleashed: The Seven-Joint Design
Robots must be as flexible and adaptable as humans to
replace manual labor effectively. The human arm is an evoluMotion
Design, April 2024

Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024

Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - Intro
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - Sponsor
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - Cov1
Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - Cov2
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