- The installation location should be from "How the workpiece comes, how to pick it up, how to move it, how to put it, where to stand, and how to maintain it"Think simultaneously.
- Core elements: pick-up/placement points, working radius, lifting stroke, rotation range, fixture size, personnel positions, passages and maintenance space.
- Key to avoiding interference:Draw the action path first, then determine the fixed point; Treat equipment boundaries as hard conditions.
- This article does not provide fixed installation dimensions. Specific parameters are subject to on-site measurement results and final plan drawings.
In many production line station renovation projects, customers will think that the Pneumatic Industrial Manipulator only needs to be able to move the workpiece and find an empty position to fix it. In fact, the installation positions of Pneumatic Industrial Manipulator, pneumatic balance cranes, vacuum cranes and custom tooling will affect whether subsequent operations are smooth and safe, and whether they will interfere with equipment, personnel, and passages. This article does not provide fixed installation dimensions. Specific parameters should be subject to on-site measurement results and final plan drawings.
01Why does the installation location affect the use effect?
The value of the Pneumatic Industrial Manipulator is to allow workpieces to be picked, placed, transferred, assembled, or loaded and unloaded at a given workstation with less effort, more stability, and more safety. When the location is unreasonable, even if the model is selected correctly, it may be "reachable but difficult to use". For example, if it is too far from the material pick-up point, the operator needs to frequently stretch the arm; if it is too close to the material discharge point, the rotation range may be insufficient; if it is close to the equipment door, it will affect the door opening, maintenance, or loading and unloading; if it is close to the passage, it may occupy the safe passage when rotating or parking. When using custom tooling, you also need to consider the tooling size, clamping posture and storage position, otherwise it will easily interfere with surrounding fixtures, guardrails, material racks or equipment shells.
02Core elements of installation location planning
Pick-up point and discharge point
The picking point may be the material frame, pallet, conveyor line, turnover vehicle, or the exit of the previous equipment; the unloading point may be the fixture, inside the machine tool, assembly table, or the next production line. The height, direction, center of gravity changes and posture requirements of the workpiece during the picking and placing process should be confirmed to prevent the manipulator from being unable to complete accurate movements even though it covers the position.
Working Radius
If the radius is too small, it may not be able to cover both the pick-up point and the discharge point; if the radius is too large, it will increase the area and interfere with peripheral equipment, columns, guardrails or channels. A reasonable working radius should cover the necessary action area, not the bigger the better.
Lifting Stroke
It is related to whether the workpiece can smoothly leave the material frame, cross the tooling, enter the equipment or be placed at a specified height. When planning, you must look at the height of the workpiece, as well as the height of the custom tooling, the position of the lifting point, the space for turning the workpiece and the operator's line of sight. The loading and unloading of the equipment must also take into account the opening height and internal space.
Rotation range
The actions of picking up, moving, avoiding, discharging and returning materials should be simulated to determine whether the equipment shell, control cabinet, fence, material rack, air line, cable or personnel position is swept during the rotation process. The rotation range depends not only on the maximum angle, but also on the actual working path.
Clamp size and posture
The more complex the fixture, the higher the space requirements. Vacuum suction cups, clamping claws, holding clamps, and turning mechanisms occupy different spaces when approaching, clamping, and parking. The installation location planning must include the clamp size into the overall plan.
Operator position
The operator should be ensured to stand naturally, observe the workpiece, control the equipment and complete picking and placing. If you need to go around, go sideways, cross pipelines or retreat frequently, it means that the position still needs to be optimized.
Channel safety and maintenance space
Safety passages cannot be occupied by manipulators, tooling units or the movement range of workpieces for a long time; equipment parking, clamping storage, and temporary hovering of workpieces should not affect traffic and material turnover. At the same time, space for maintenance of compressed-air supply pipelines, control valve groups, limiting parts, bearings, column fixed points and fixtures must be reserved.
03Key points to avoid interference
- Draw the action path first, then determine the fixed point: Many interferences come from the dynamic range rather than static dimensions, and the ascent, translation, rotation, descent, positioning and return should be completely sorted out.
- Treat device boundaries as hard conditions: The equipment shell, door panel opening range, inspection opening, emergency stop button, electric control cabinet, feeding port and discharge port all need to be avoided.
- Consider fixture storage in advance: Where does the manipulator stop when not in use, whether the tooling is suspended above the channel, and whether it affects the replacement and inspection of the material frame.
- Verify pipeline and headspace: Air hoses, vacuum pipes, and control cables should avoid pulling, winding, and squeezing; for suspension or track types, top beams, lamps, air ducts, and bridges should also be checked.
- Reserve allowance for later adjustments: The production line station will change, so it is not advisable to place the manipulator in an extreme position.
04Installation location planning checklist
| Inspection Item | Acceptance Check | Common risks | Recommended practices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pick-up point | Material frame, pallet, conveyor line or equipment exit location | The distance for picking up materials is too far and the operation is laborious. | Confirm the coverage based on the actual picking action |
| Putting point | Tools, equipment, assembly benches or next work station | Inaccurate placement and difficult positioning | Plan the path based on the workpiece posture and placement height |
| Working Radius | Whether to cover the pick and place point and intermediate action area | Insufficient radius or excessive range causes interference | Determine the reasonable radius based on the actual movement path |
| Lifting Stroke | Workpiece, fixture and equipment height relationships | Workpieces cannot pass over tooling or enter equipment | Combined with on-site measurement and plan drawing confirmation |
| Rotation range | Whether it hits surrounding objects during rotation | Scan equipment, guardrails, racks or personnel | Do dynamic range simulations and set limits if necessary |
| Clamp size | custom tooling shape, clamping method and orientation | Fixture collides with workpiece, equipment or table | Incorporate fixture dimensions into overall workstation layout |
| Personnel position | Operator standing, observation and control position | Awkward operation, entering dangerous area | Ensure that personnel have a natural and safe operating space |
| aisle safety | Are pedestrian, logistics, and maintenance channels occupied? | Affecting traffic or material turnover | Reserve safe passages and equipment parking areas |
| Equipment interference | Relationship with equipment doors, control cabinets, and inspection openings | Affecting door opening, maintenance or equipment operation | Treat device boundaries as placement hard conditions |
| Later maintenance space | Maintenance of fixtures, air lines, control parts, and fixed points | Difficult to maintain and inconvenient to adjust | Reserve space for maintenance and replacement |