What Is a Painting Robot?
Painting robots are industrial robots used for painting.
Most painting robots are equipped with a painting gun attached to an articulated arm to handle delicate painting tasks. Painting robots can reduce the risk of health hazards caused by organic solvents contained in paints when painted by humans.
Painting Robots can also improve productivity and reduce human error and variation. In fact, in a roof Painting Robot case study, productivity was increased by a factor of 35, and the use of robots in industry is rapidly increasing.
Applications of Painting Robots
Painting Robots have been introduced in the automotive industry and many other manufacturing sites where painting is required. A wide range of sizes, from large ones for automobiles to small ones for electronic components, are now available on the market, and their introduction is further expanding.
Since production is more stable than when done by humans and human health hazards can be reduced, it has also begun to be introduced in the fields of roofing, wall construction, daily necessities, and various parts. In some cases, Painting Robots are being used in the traditional craft of lacquerware.
Principle of Painting Robot
Painting Robot consists of an industrial robot with a painting gun attached. Since the paint sprayed during painting also splashes on the robot itself, explosion-proofing was an issue.
Many robots are articulated with 5 to 6 axes, and the following three types of robots are mainly used:
1. Vertically Articulated Robots
Vertically articulated robots have 5 to 6 axes of vertically rotating joints and can move in a manner similar to a human arm in appearance. By changing the direction of the axes, the robot can rotate not only vertically but also diagonally. It can also be used for painting complex shapes.
2. Horizontal Articulated Robot
Joints and links are connected horizontally, and rotation is possible in the horizontal direction. Since the robot moves almost exclusively in the horizontal direction, it is suitable for coating flat objects.
3. Rectangular Coordinate Robot
This robot has a structure in which three axes slide and move, and is also called a Cartesian Coordinate Robot. Since they cannot perform complex movements, they are suited for objects with simple shapes.
Other Information on Painting Robots
1. Examples of Painting Robot Applications
Introduction of Wall Spray Painting Robot
The distance between the wall and the Painting Robot is measured by a distance sensor, and the robot’s position is controlled to maintain the distance at a constant level. This technology ensures uniform distribution of the coating volume and quality equivalent to that of skilled workers.
It is also possible to use “human-robot collaboration,” in which the robot is semi-automated and a person works in the corners of the wall and other areas that are difficult for the robot to work in.
Introduction of Painting Robot in Lacquer Ware
Painting of lacquerware, which used to be done by hand because of the need for skilled techniques, is now performed by a vertically articulated Painting Robot. The work, which previously required two people, can now be done by a single assistant, greatly increasing labor productivity by about threefold.
In addition, the new system contributes to solving the problem of technical succession due to the declining birthrate and aging population.
Introduction of Painting Robot for Roof Painting
In the case of the introduction of Painting Robot to the roof painting operation, labor productivity increased 35 times before and after the introduction of Painting Robot.
2. Painting Robot Painting Method
Painting Robots use an electrostatic coating method with a beautiful finish. Electrostatic coating is a coating method that utilizes the mechanism of static electricity. The workpiece is the positive electrode and the Painting Robot is the negative electrode. High voltage is applied to the atomized paint to charge the negative electrode, and the paint is applied to the positive electrode workpiece along the electrostatic lines. The advantages of this method are that less paint is wasted, the number of coating man-hours is greatly reduced. It is also environmentally friendly.
The most commonly used coating guns are the rotary atomization method and the electrostatic atomization method. The rotary atomization method spreads the paint in an application pattern while atomizing the paint. An air motor is rotated at high speed, compressed air is used to create an air film between the shaft and bearings. This mechanism rotates at high speed without contact. These rotations cause the paint to form a fine atomization, which is then pneumatically ejected in the direction of the workpiece.
The electrostatic atomization method uses electrostatic force to atomize the paint. The electrostatic coating method is widely used for mass-produced industrial products such as automobile bodies, railroad cars, electrical products, steel office equipment, and housing-related parts.