three questions you need to answer before considering a ... · fencing and perhaps other safety...

Three Questions You Need to Answer Before Considering a Collaborative Robot

Dazzled by promises of safe, cheap, flexible, robots with a small footprint that are easy to program who wouldn’t want a collaborative robot?

Before you make that investment there are a few questions you need to answer to avoid your new robot ending up as an expensive coat hanger in the corner.

1 Is your application better suited for a traditionalindustrial robot or a cobot?

If you need:

High-volume, high-speed production High payload or long reach at high speed Extremely high accuracy at a high speed

Then you probably don’t want a cobot because they don’t compare with traditional industrial robots for any of these requirements. You can stop reading here unless you’re just curious about cobots.

If you are looking for:

Similar throughput as a human worker Ability to program and setup the robot in-house Ability to easily redeploy the robot to different processes or tasks

Then read on because your next employee just may be a cobot.

Applied Manufacturing Technologies | www.appliedmfg.com | [email protected] | 248-409-2000

2 What are the safety requirements?


A cobot by itself does not assure a safe application! Safeguarding requirements are determined by the application risk assessment. If you are new to automation this is where you may want some help.


Although there are plenty of how-to guides and templates on the internet you need to make sure you get this part right. A comprehensive risk assessment is required to assess not only the robot system itself but also the environment in which it is placed. The risk assessment must address:

Robot hazardous motion Gripper hazardous motion Machinery within the cell

Your assessment may include that the cobot itself is harmless as a kitten but the process equipment and fixtures, e.g. clamps, hot surfaces, etc. pose a danger that will require fencing and perhaps other safety measures. The Robotics Industries Association (RIA) is a good source for information and access to the RIA TR15.606-2016 standards.

We said there were only three questions, but you really need to ask yourself more questions in order to answer this one.

What is the skill level and attitude of your staff? Will they embrace the opportunity to learn new technology?

How quickly do you need to launch? Do you need to interface to other machines, networks, or secondary operations? Do you need a cell or a system?

We’d love the chance to help you with your automation project. We have plenty of experience working with companies are new to collaborative robots. We make it our mission to guide you every step of the way and stick with you until you are trained and comfortable supporting your new system.


3 Do I need a Systems Integrator?


AMT creatively solves robotic automation challenges. We provide complete engineered solutions with talented, experienced engineers and NO product or hardware agenda. This allows us to offer a unique and unbiased automation solution that fit your robotic automation needs regardless of size.

We offer the AMT Advantage, which separates us from the pack. We have over 29 years as a full-service Automation Solutions Integrator with the unique ability to engage with a manufacturer at any point in their process.

At AMT, we have successfully built a company of relevant automation robotics technologies under one roof with a depth of knowledge and experience that exists solely to add value to our customers’ performance.

With over 29 years’ experience and 5,000+ successfully executed automation projects worldwide, we can bring that same expertise to your company - let us show you how!


What We Can Do For You

three questions you need to answer before considering a ... · fencing and perhaps other safety...

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