From the perspective of maintaining long-term operation, the injection molding machine manipulator always pays attention to some important operating conditions, which will reduce downtime and reduce costs. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

1 guide rail and bearing

The rails and bearings at all shafts should be kept clean and well lubricated. If the robot is running in a dusty environment, the rails need to be cleaned frequently. If you find any metal fragments or powder, it may indicate that the lubrication is not good. In order to ensure proper lubrication, it is critical to have the right linear guidance system. Most robots have automated lubrication systems and components that require regular replacement.

2 robot cycle

One of the main points of keeping the robot running well is simple observation and listening, which can reveal a lot of information about the overall operation of the robot. The robot works through specific actions, so listening to any abnormal sounds, such as howling, squeaking, etc., indicates that the bearing does not rotate properly or that some other component is stuck. The robot link section moves along the guide rails with power cables and vacuum hoses, giving a normal click, but the sound is smooth and stable. Check any bearings that can be observed to ensure they rotate smoothly. Simply checking and listening to some signs of wear or adjustments can greatly help keep the robot in optimal operating condition.

3 drive system

If the robot is driven by the mount-transmission gear, be aware of any hesitation or sloshing during operation. All movements other than smooth and smooth motion can indicate damage to the drive system or internal storage of some foreign objects. When the robot pushes the downward movement, the method of quickly checking the movement or backlash between the assembly beam and the transmission gear is to push the arm and feel the abnormal motion (the back and forth movement is different). However, due to the high tolerance of normal factory tolerances, this test method will be very inaccurate. If you suspect that there may be a problem with the assembled beam and drive gear, a better method is to use a long-range magnetic stand. After adjusting the backlash according to the manufacturer's instructions, check the full stroke of the shaft to ensure that there is not too tight between the assembly beam and the transmission gear. If the backlash cannot be adjusted, the mount and drive gear may be worn and need to be replaced. If it is necessary to repair the mount and the drive gear, it is best to replace both components at the same time to ensure long-term performance. As for the shaft driven by the conveyor belt, pay close attention to the debris that the conveyor belt wears and the damage itself. Carefully inspect the pulleys and pay attention to the signs of dust from the conveyor belt material. Make sure that the belt and drive pulley and the sheave are completely aligned. The belt with the direction deviation will wear out very quickly. As long as it is a conveyor-driven system, the preload of the conveyor itself can be checked according to the manufacturer's instructions. These specifications will tell you the appropriate amount of error at the specific location of the conveyor belt relative to the pulley.

4 pneumatic system

Including multi-axis servo drives, almost all robots have a pneumatic function as long as there is a wrist and vacuum gripping action. Pay close attention to the suction cup of the filter regulator unit, where the accumulation of water indicates that the compressed air supply through the system is too humid. The presence of a small amount of moisture may be transmitted to the pneumatic valves and actuators, causing oxidation and internal contamination, which may eventually cause the pressure regulator to stick or the actuator to stick or fail intermittently. If the suction cup is equipped with an automatic dehumidification system, contamination or discoloration on the suction cup also indicates that the moisture is increasing before removal. If water collects into the suction cup, it can enter the system even if the time is short, causing the above problems. If you notice any physical damage to the pneumatic hose, the system may leak.

If the air circuit is filled with air under normal operating pressure and there is a leak somewhere in the circuit, then you should be more likely to notice a noticeable click to help you determine the location of the leak.

5 inspection molding equipment

The standard configuration of the robot is usually mounted on the template of the molding equipment. When the equipment is running fast, vibration from the molding equipment may be transmitted to the robot and may cause damage. Simply observe the operation of the molding equipment, ensure that the mold movement is adjusted to a reasonable state, reduce the number of shaking or vibration, and extend the life of the robot. At high speeds, the vibration frequency can be very high and it is best to mount the robot on a support structure that is separate from the molding equipment.

6 pay attention to wiring wear

When the surface of the robot is inspected, if black particles or powder are found, it indicates that the robot circuit wiring shows signs of wear. However, even if you can't find these wear signals, look closely at all power, transformer, or encoder cables. The inside and outside of the wiring path can be used, because the wiring of the robot is continuously rubbed during the production cycle, or it is attached to the cable guide. The wiring will eventually wear out and fail. Ensure the safety of the wiring tie and the proper installation of the cable.

7 check lubrication

The manipulator uses a spring-loaded lubrication rod and will only need to be replaced once a year unless there is evidence that the rail is not sufficiently lubricated. An automated lubrication system is configured to continuously lubricate along the movement of the robot. However, if there are some surfaces on which the robot does not move properly, then these areas are manually lubricated or periodically programmed to achieve lubrication of the automated system for lubrication. If you notice rust, corrosion or wear on any moving surface, or just too dry, it means that they are not sufficiently lubricated. Always properly lubricate metal parts with reference to the robot manual. Assembled beams – Traditional gear systems are automatically lubricated by a lube storage unit, but need to be replaced annually.

8 vacuum gripper circuit

The vacuum should be close to instantaneous formation, and a suitable controller input should be equivalent to grabbing the product. If you find that the vacuum is turned on and then the input source appears, the delay time is more than 2 seconds, which indicates that the vacuum line is leaking, defective, or improperly adjusted by the switching device. Testing is easy with the external main control panel. If the robot is equipped with a digital vacuum switching unit, then the minimum threshold for the vacuum required to grip the product can be quickly and automatically fine-tuned. This process can be done while the robot is running in automatic mode. The set parameters for each production cycle are saved in memory, which saves time in the next production change. The digital vacuum switching device has two other advantages: The grab threshold signal electronic filter compensates for the vibration of the product on the vacuum chuck during rapid motion. The product release threshold is different from the capture threshold and can be programmed to ensure proper release under rapid production cycle conditions.