Industrial robotics offer the speed, precision and endurance that simply isn't possible on a human scale. Some of these industrial robots are programmed to repeat a process over and over again, while maintaining high accuracy and speed. While others can be more flexible with their programming, such as being able to identify the object and subsequent task associated with the object. These days, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming more common among industrial robots, although this technology is still in its infancy.
If you're looking for an industrial robot to carry out certain tasks, there are a few things you will want to consider. Taking note of the number of axis it has--the more axis, the more freely the robot can move; the robot's working envelope, which is the space a robot can reach; its carrying capacity (or payload); its speed; its repeatability and more. So it's always important to keep these things in mind when researching the correct industrial robotics for your needs.
Not only is the robotic arm important, you will also need to take note of the end of arm tooling (EOAT). These can include MIG-welding guns, spray guns, grippers, cutters and much more.
Industrial robotics are used on a commercial scale, however this doesn't always mean they are large in size. There are smaller robotic arms available to conduct smaller repetitive jobs in a workshop, but it all depends on what you need the robot to do.
Since industrial robotics are highly specialised, you'll want to be certain of the task you require robotics for prior to starting your search. Generally, robotics are used for material handling (picking and packing, and stacking pallets), cutting, welding and assembly. Depending on your programming skills, you may be able to reprogram an arm to conduct a different task.
