1: Guide rails and bearings

All guide rails and bearings at the shaft should be kept clean and have good lubrication performance. If the robotic arm operates in a dusty environment, it is necessary to regularly clean the guide rails. If you find any metal fragments or powder, it may indicate poor lubrication. To ensure proper lubrication, having an appropriate linear guidance system is crucial. Most robotic arms have automated lubrication systems and components that need to be replaced regularly.

2: Mechanical arm cycle

One of the key points to maintaining good operation of a robotic arm is simple observation and listening, which can expose a lot of information about the overall operation of the robotic arm. The robotic arm works through specific movements, so it listens for any abnormal sounds, such as whistling, clicking, etc., which indicate that the bearing cannot rotate normally or that some other component is stuck.

The link part of the robotic arm moves along the guide rail equipped with power cables and vacuum hoses, and will make a normal ticking sound, but this sound is smooth and stable. Check any observable bearings to ensure they rotate smoothly. Just checking and listening for signs of wear or adjustment can greatly help maintain the optimal operating state of the robotic arm.

3: Drive system

If the robotic arm is driven by an assembly frame transmission gear, pay attention to whether there is any hesitation or shaking during operation. All movements, except for smooth and steady movements, can indicate damage to the drive system or the presence of some foreign objects inside. The method to quickly check the movement or backlash between the assembly beam and the transmission gear when the robotic arm pushes downwards is to push and drag the motion arm, feeling abnormal movement (different back and forth movements).

However, due to the high tolerance accuracy of normal manufacturers, this test method will be very inaccurate. If you suspect that there may be a problem with the assembly beam and transmission gear, a better method is to use a magnetic gauge holder with a long range. After adjusting the backlash according to the manufacturer's instructions, check the entire travel of the shaft to ensure that there are no tight places between the assembly beam and the transmission gear.

If the backlash cannot be adjusted, the assembly frame and transmission gear may experience wear and need to be replaced. If it is necessary to repair the assembly frame and transmission gear, it is best to replace both components simultaneously to ensure long-term performance. As for the shaft driven by the conveyor belt, pay close attention to the debris and damage caused by the wear and tear of the conveyor belt. Carefully inspect the pulley and pay attention to any signs of dust originating from the conveyor belt material.

Ensure that the conveyor belt, drive pulleys, and pulleys are fully aligned in a row. A conveyor belt that deviates in direction will wear out very quickly. As long as it is a conveyor belt driven system, the preload of the conveyor belt itself can be checked according to the manufacturer's instructions. These specifications will tell you the appropriate amount of error in the specific position of the conveyor belt relative to the pulley.

4: Pneumatic system

Including multi axis servo drive, almost all robotic arms will have pneumatic function as long as there is wrist rotation and vacuum grasping action. Pay close attention to the suction cup of the filter regulator unit, as water accumulation indicates excessive humidity in the compressed air source passing through the system. The presence of a small amount of water vapor may be transmitted to pneumatic valves and actuators, causing oxidation and internal contamination, ultimately leading to sticking of the pressure regulating valve or intermittent sticking or failure of the actuator.

If the suction cup is equipped with an automatic dehumidification system, contamination or discoloration on the suction cup also indicates an increase in moisture before removal. If water accumulates in the suction cup, even if the time is short, it can still enter the system, causing the above-mentioned problems. If you notice any tangible damage to the pneumatic hose, there may be a leak in the system.

If the pneumatic circuit is filled with air at normal operating pressure and there is a leak somewhere in the circuit, you should be more likely to notice a noticeable hissing sound, which can help you determine the location of the leak.

5: Check the molding equipment

The standard configuration of robotic arms is usually installed on the template of the molding equipment. When the equipment is running rapidly, vibrations from the molding equipment may be transmitted to the robotic arm and can cause damage. Simply observing the operation of the molding equipment to ensure that the mold motion is adjusted to a reasonable state, reducing shaking or vibration frequency, can extend the life of the robotic arm. In high-speed operation, the vibration frequency may be very high, and it is best to install the robotic arm on a support structure independent of the forming equipment.

6: Pay attention to wiring wear and tear

If black particles or powder are found on the surface of a mechanical watch during inspection, it indicates signs of wear on the wiring of the robotic arm circuit. However, even if you cannot detect these wear signals, carefully inspect all power, transformer, or encoder cables, as well as the inner and outer sides of the wiring path, because during the production cycle, the wiring of the continuous friction robotic arm or the wiring connected to the cable guide will eventually wear out and fail. Ensure the safety of wiring ties and the proper installation of cables.

7: Check lubrication

The robotic arm uses a spring-loaded lubrication rod, which only needs to be replaced once a year unless there is evidence of insufficient lubrication of the guide rail. Configure an automated lubrication system that can continuously lubricate along with the movement of the robotic arm. But if there are some surfaces on which the robotic arm cannot move normally, manual lubrication should be applied to these areas, or regular programmable lubrication actions should be implemented for automated system lubrication.

If you find rust spots, corrosion, or wear on any moving surface, or if it's just too dry, it means they're not lubricated enough. Always refer to the manual of the robotic arm for proper lubrication of metal components. Assembly beam - Traditional gear systems are automatically lubricated through a lubricating oil storage unit, but require annual replacement.

8: Vacuum gripper circuit

The vacuum should form almost instantaneously, and the appropriate controller input should be equivalent to grasping the product. If you find that the vacuum is turned on and then the input light source appears with a delay time of more than 2 seconds, it indicates that there is a vacuum pipeline leak, defect, or improper adjustment of the switching device. Testing can be easily conducted through the external main control panel. If the robotic arm is equipped with a digital vacuum switching unit, it can quickly and automatically adjust the minimum threshold of vacuum required for grasping the product.