Industrial robots are making great strides into the field of machine tools, and are combined with machine tools to provide users with a variety of personalized intelligent manufacturing equipment. At present, the application of robots in machine tools by domestic enterprises is still in its infancy, and many theoretical and practical problems have not been fully understood and solved.

1. The rapid development of integrated applications of robots and machine tools

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The reasons for this rapid development trend are of course closely related to the leading and catalytic role brought by my country's industrial transformation and upgrading, the rapid increase in my country's labor costs, and the reduction in the price and performance of industrial robots. There are also general factors in the field of machine tools. There are special reasons. First, with the continuous improvement of machine tool numerical control technology and the maturity of various automatic detection and dynamic compensation technologies, the development of machine tool technology has entered a new stage of intelligence, and the addition of robots has only played a role in fueling the flames; second The integrated application of robots and machine tools also has some special advantages, for example, the density of machine tools is increased, the utilization rate of workshops is improved; the auxiliary time is shortened, and the working efficiency of machine tools is improved; the operation accuracy and repeatability are higher than that of natural persons; the possibility of work-related injuries is high. To reduce; can work continuously for a long time without emotional problems and emotional demands, etc.

Second, the main form of robot and machine tool integration application

In most application fields such as welding, handling, palletizing, and assembly, industrial robots are used as the host. In contrast to this, the robot that is matched with the machine tool generally functions as an auxiliary machine. The current specific application forms mainly include:

(1) Single machine loading and unloading

Single machine loading and unloading is the most typical and mature application of robots in machine tools. It is more accurate, fast and safe than manual loading and unloading. For the processing of small and medium-sized parts with large production batches and short processing time, or heavy workpieces that need to be hoisted, the advantages of robot loading and unloading are particularly obvious.

The structural relationship between the robot and the machine tool is divided into two forms: the robot is installed outside the machine tool and it is integrated with the machine tool. Robots installed outside the machine tool are divided into fixed, mobile and rack types.

(2) Robots and machine tools form a flexible production line

It is an application that is more complicated and more valuable than single machine loading and unloading. In the current process of industrial transformation and upgrading, the market demand is getting stronger and stronger.

In this application, the machine layout depends on factors such as the process route and site conditions. The common forms are L-shaped, U-shaped, straight-line, and opposite layout. Among them, three CNC machine tools form a U-shaped layout, and a robot performs workpiece conversion in the middle of the field. This layout is very compact.

(3) Complete the machining process with the machine tool

The robot clamps the workpiece to realize the processing operation on the punching, shearing and bending machine, which is not only a simple loading and unloading, but also replaces all the original manual operations. This is more accurate and faster than manual operation, thereby improving product quality and production efficiency. In particular, it completely solves the hidden danger of work injury of stamping machine tools.

(4) Complete the machining process independently

The robot is equipped with a special gripper, and the robot can complete the process of cutting, grinding, polishing, cleaning and so on. Even the robot can directly hold the cutting tool, and the workpiece can be punched, tapped, riveted, and can also be cut. In this case, the robot itself is a machine tool.

Robots with vision and touch can be used for complex processes such as assembly and parts sorting. Even for loading and unloading, special workstation tools with positioning devices are not required.

Equip the robot with special claws, which can be used for casting and forging machinery operating in high temperature environments, to complete the work that is difficult to be done manually, such as taking molten iron, pouring, up and down hot blanks, and replacing hot molds.

An industrial robot is a highly flexible general-purpose automation device, and its applications and functions have unlimited room for expansion. In the integrated application with machine tools, the specific application forms of industrial robots are also constantly being explored and innovated.

3. The situation of the development and application of robots in domestic machine tool enterprises

Because industrial robots have many similarities with CNC machine tools in principle and structure, they are all automatic devices controlled by CNC system and driven by servo motors to realize precise position movement. Therefore, machine tool manufacturers have considerable advantages in the development of industrial robots. . Therefore, many robot manufacturing enterprises at home and abroad have the foundation of machine tool manufacturing.

There are also some sharp-sighted machine tool companies in China, aware of the upcoming huge business opportunities, and have been involved in the R&D and manufacturing of industrial robots a few years ago. At present, there are two main types of machine tool companies that develop robots in China. One is CNC system manufacturers, such as Guangshu, Huazhong CNC, Nanjing Estun, Dalian Guangyang, and Chengdu Guangtai; OEMs with advantages in complete sets of projects, such as Dalian Machine Tool, Shenyang Machine Tool, Xi'an Beicun, etc. In addition, Qinchuan Machine Tool Group, which is known for its precision gear manufacturing, has successfully developed a RV reducer for robots after years of hard work, and has begun to industrialize.

Among these enterprises, Guangzhou CNC and Nanjing Estun have entered the ranks of the main manufacturers of industrial robots in China, with considerable popularity and influence. Guangzhou CNC started to develop industrial robots for six or seven years. Now it has a production capacity of 1,000 units, and has accumulated many successful cases in machine tool applications. Nanjing Estun focuses more on the application of robots in forming machine tools.

4. Some problems that need to be paid attention to and solved at present

At present, the application of robots on machine tools by domestic enterprises is still in its infancy, and many theoretical and practical problems have not been fully understood and solved. For example, the most common form of application is a simple combination of machine tools and robots, each using a set of control systems. To give full play to the advantages of the integrated application of robots and machine tools, unremitting efforts are still needed.

(1) Machine tool enterprises should give full play to the inherent advantages related to the industry to develop robots and establish higher development goals

From the research and application of basic theory, to the improvement of manufacturing and assembly processes, to the breakthrough of basic components such as reducers and servo motors, we have made continuous efforts to contribute to the improvement of the level and quality of domestic robots.

(2) To promote the integration of machine tools and robots