Robosuit™ coated with Dupont Dow Hypalon® protects vital industrial robots

Citation

(2005), "Robosuit™ coated with Dupont Dow Hypalon® protects vital industrial robots", Industrial Robot, Vol. 32 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2005.04932fab.002

Robosuit™ coated with Dupont Dow Hypalon® protects vital industrial robots

Robosuit™ coated with Dupont Dow Hypalon® protects vital industrial robots

Keywords: Robotics, Hazards

Robots are part of the modern day industrial revolution. They perform millions of repetitive and intricate tasks, often in conditions too demanding for humans. But chemicals, scrap metal and other foreign materials can invade robotic equipment, damage essential components and render them inoperable. Roboworld, LLC of Germantown, Wisconsin, USA, provides a solution with the Robosuit™, an all-enveloping suit coated with DuPont Dow Hypalon® chlorosulfonated polyethylene, that helps protect vital parts, reduce maintenance and increase automation uptime (Plate 2).

Plate 2 An all-enveloping Robosuit™ coated with DuPont Dow Hypalon® chlorosulfonated polyethylene protects the vital working parts of this robot, helping reduce maintenance and increase automation uptime (photo courtesy of Roboworld, Inc.)

The Robosuit™ was the brainchild of Charles Tur, founder of Roboworld. He realized that while many companies were investing heavily in robots, they often used them in environments that could destroy vital components such as wiring, seals, and articulated joints – leading to costly maintenance, replacement, and reduced productivity. His solution is to cover robots in a heavy gauge material suit coated with Hypalon®, to protect vital parts without restricting movement.

Extending robot lifetime

“We chose Hypalon® to coat the base fabric because of its strength, durability, flexibility, chemical resistance, and colourability. This enables the heavy duty suit to resist dirt and abrasion on the outside while keeping the equipment clean on the inside, helping increase productivity, decrease maintenance, and extend lifetime beyond that of an unsuited robot”, he says.

“For example, one of our Tier 1 automotive customers employed three full-time workers to clean dirt, oil, and die lube from robots used to manufacture transmission housings, to keep them functioning. Once the equipment was fitted with a Robosuit™, it no longer needed constant maintenance and cleaning. The workers are now deployed in more satisfying and revenue generating work”.

When the robots do require maintenance, the cover is simply slipped off allowing easy access to technicians. It can be cleaned and refitted once maintenance is complete.

“The dirtier the application, the greater the need”

According to Mike Tur, Vice President of sales at Roboworld, approximately 4,000 new robots are installed each month around the world. Since their design and function varies as greatly as the industries in which they are used, each Robosuit™ is made specifally to the customer’s specifications.

Measurements of the robot, its functions and movements are combined with CAD drawings to create pattern templates for the Robosuit™. Typically, each suit embodies a four- to six-axis robot while allowing for full work envelope articulation. Other customizations include sleeving (hose wrap) for extra equipment, covers for controllers, and even heated or cooled covers where temperature control is required. Suits can be made in a colour that matches the robot, or in a high visibility colour for safety. Here the easy colourability of Hypalon® is an asset.

The Robosuit™ incorporating Hypalon® is available in a standard 17 oz (approx. 1/2 kg) fabric for robotic applications such as water jet spraying, painting and die lubrication, and a heavy duty 35 oz (approx. 1 kg) fabric for potentially more damaging conditions such as flashing and deburring operations and bead blasting. “The uglier, nastier, dirtier, and grimier the application, the greater the need for a Robosuit™ made with fabric incorporating Hypalon®”, says Tur.

For more information on Robosuit™ and Roboworld, LLC, contact: Roboworld, N140 W 13719 Cedar Lane, Germantown, WI 53022, USA. Tel: ++1 (262) 242 5335; Fax: ++1 (262) 242 0334; Web site: www.roboworld.com