A Accuracy: A measure of the robot's capability to repeat the same task multiple times without changing the closeness to a certain point. ANSI/RIA Compliant: System that meets all safety requirements and guidelines for the inherent design, protective measures and information used for industrial robots and robot systems that are set by ANSI and RIA. Arc-Flash Barrier: The distance at which an electrical arc flashes outward, can be fixed, manual or automatic. Articulated Robot: A robot with arms and rotating joints. Axis: The point that an object such as a tool rotates around. While the number of axes varies, the majority of industrial robots are 4 axes or 6 axes. B Barrier: A physical structure used to separate people from a restricted area. Base: The part of a structure that supports the manipulator arm. C Capacity: The maximum amount of weight that can be contained. Circular Motion Robot: A robot that runs in a circular motion. Points are recorded throughout the arc to ensure accuracy. Crane Access: Ability to load/unload a fixture inside the work zone without obstruction using an overhead crane. Custom Robotic Welding Cells: A robotic cell designed for a specific task. The cells can be customized to fit any need of the customer. D Degrees of Freedom: The amount of values in a system possible of variation. A robotic joint is equal to one degree of freedom. Doweled Robot Mounts: Robots are locked by bump dowel or dowel pins. Locating the pinned robot riser and bump dowel robot mounting location allows accurate repeatable location of robot. Drop Center Positioner: A horizontal axis positioner with rotating secondary axis that offers two degrees of rotation, typically for heavier payloads. Dual Zones: A Robotic system that has two workstations where a part maybe located and processed. E End of Arm Tooling (EOAT): A piece of equipment/ attachment at the end of the robot's arm where multiple tools can be attached. EOAT's can include welding/cutting torch, grippers, clamps, vacuum cups, blades, and fingers. F Ferris Wheel: A positioner that rotates 180 degrees on a center axis which presents the part to the robot. Each side uses a headstock and tailstock, allowing the part to turn. The system allows parts to be loaded on one side while the robot works on the other. Fixed Headstock: A stationary mounted positioner that offers one axis of rotation. Fixed Table: A stationary work table which is fixed in the robot cell or floor to prevent the movement of a part. Fixture: Holds the part in a fixed location to prevent it from moving during welding. Flexible Tooling: Clamps that open and close to hold the part; clamps can be pneumatic. G H H-Frame: H-frame positioner is a dual headstock/tailstock configuration that indexes/ rotates 180 degrees on a center axis. The system allows parts to be loaded on one side while the robot works on the other. Each side has the ability to turn to provide the robot with the best access of the part. HMI Controller: A graphics-based human-machine interface control and monitoring system. Headstock/Tailstock: Rotates the part horizontally about one axis, allowing the robot to have the best access to the part. They are common because of their versatility and simplicity. A headstock is considered one degree of freedom. I Indexing: The precise rotation of a positioner through a certain known number of degrees. Indexing Headstock: A rotating positioner that includes a headstock/tailstock on each side. J Jointed Motion Robot: A way to regulate the joint's movement so that all reach a specified position simultaneously. The robot will take the easiest path to get to the programmed point. K L Laser Area Scanners: Define safety and warning fields, also referred to as zones. These zones are freely programmable and can be changed dynamically by an input to the safety scanner. Linear Motion Robot: A precise linear movement where the robot travels along a specific path. Light Curtain: Opto-electronic devices that are used to safeguard personnel in the vicinity of moving machinery with the potential to cause harm. Load Cycle Time: The complete time to unload the last workpiece and load the next. M Manipulator: Also known as the arm of the robot, it allows for movement of a part through multiple joints on the mechanical device. Modular Base: A robotic cell where different pieces are bolted and fastened together to complete the cell. These cells have external wiring, along with unattached fixturing and welding power sources. N O Offline Programming: A method to program the robot on a remote computer that does not interfere with an existing production cycle. Orientation: The physical position or direction of a part. Overhead Crown Robot Mounting: Also known as Overhead Gantry, carries the robot on a servo track parallel to the part to allow for a greater working envelope of the robot. These systems can also have an X axis and possibly Z axis with an elevator. P Palletized Base: A robotic cell where the robot and work zones are mounted to a common base, allowing for easy relocation with a forklift. These cells tend to have no external wiring. Payload: The weight that the robotic arm or base can handle. Perimeter Guarding: safety measures that guard multiple sides of a machine. If the perimeter is breached, a stop signal is initiated and the machine is stopped. PLC Based: Allows for quick and easy programming of the robotic system. Pneumatic: A system that is powered by compressed air. Pneumatic Distribution Station: A box on the side of the robot where the main airline comes in. From there, the compressed air is distributed to individual lines. Power Distribution: A main breaker where the power comes in for the robot. From there, the power is distributed to other systems involved in the robot cell. Allows for a single input power connection to the system. Pre-Engineered Systems (Standard Robotic Welding Cell): A robotic welding cell that has been designed to allow for basic reach of the robot, and zones with preset dimensions to perform welding operations. Push Button Control Systems: A palm station outside the work cell where the operator runs the cell automatically. Typically includes cycle start, reset, and emergency stop. Q Quick Change Tooling: A modular system for fast changes during tool set-up. R Reach: The volume of space (envelope) that the robot's end effector (connected to the end of the robot arm) can reach in at least one orientation. This does not necessarily equal the envelope that can be effectively welded. Rectilinear Robot: A robot whose movements are along a straight line. Repeatability: A measure of how close an arm can repeatedly obtain a taught position. Robot Rectilinear: A robot whose movements are along a straight line. Articulated: A robot with arms and rotating joints. Jointed Motion: A way to regulate the joint's movement so that all reach a specified position simultaneously. The robot will take the easiest path to get to the programmed point. Circular Motion: A robot that runs in a circular motion. Points are recorded throughout the arc to ensure accuracy. Linear Motion: A precise linear movement where the robot travels along a specific path. Robot Controller: a combination of hardware and software to program and control single or multiple robots. Robotic Positioner: Positioners work with the robot to tilt and rotate the part to allow for better access to the part. Robotic Welding Cell/System Parts: Combination of the following items that produces welds automatically using various programs, welding fixtures and accessories. Wire Feeder: a mechanism mounted on a robot arm that controls the rate of weld wire during arc welding with an electric motor and a set of drive rolls. Welding Robot Arm: welding that is performed and controlled by a programmable mechanized tool. Welding Torch (robotic gun): a device that conducts electrical current and delivers the weld wire and shielding gas to the arc upon completing a circuit. Torch Maintenance Station/Torch Cleaning System (Reamer): a mechanized device used to removes spatter and debris from the robotic welding torch nozzle. It can also include functions such as a wire clipper and anti-spatter mister. Work Envelope/Work Area: The robot's range of movement without intrusion to perform its operations. Sometimes, the shape of the workspace and position of the manipulator can restrict the work envelope. This does not necessarily equal the envelope that can be effectively welded. Tooling: a work-holding or support device used in the manufacturing industry used to securely locate and support the work. Teach Pendant: a device needed to control an industrial robot remotely. Welding Power Source: a controlling device that provides a continuous supply of electrical current and voltage to maintain a welding arc. Stack Light: modular systems that provide illuminated and audible status indication in all directions. Robot Controller: a combination of hardware and software to program and control single or multiple robots. Safety: an essential part of a robotic welding system to ensure the protection of the workers. Safety Options could include fencing, light curtains, floor scanners, arc glare shields, light screens and roll up doors. S Single Zone: A Robotic system that has one workstation where a part maybe located and welded. Sensor Interlocked Access Points: An access door to the robotic cell. When closed, a key connects the door to the cell to prevent anyone from entering while the robot is running. If the connection is lost, the robot shuts down. Sensor Protected Work Zones: Laser sensors that shut down the system if a person or object crosses their path while the robot is running. Servo Driven Positioner: A positioner that is controlled by a servo motor. Servo Motor: An electrical power mechanism used to affect motion or maintain position of the robot. The motor responds to a signal received from the control system and often incorporates an encoder to provide feedback to the control loop. Servo Track: A linear positioning rail with precise control capable of continuous or incremental travel. Skyhook Positioner: A horizontal axis rotational positioner with a cantilevered rotating secondary axis for increased accessibility and versatility. Span (Tool Bed Length): Often used to measure the usable distance between a headstock and tailstock. Stack Light: Modular systems that provide illuminated and audible status indication in all directions. Sweep Diameter (Tool Diameter): The maximum allowable work area that the tooling and parts can turn in a rotating system. Swing: The rotational movement of the robot from the centerline point. T Teach Pendant: a device needed to control an industrial robot remotely. Tilt/Rotate Positioner: A motorized device designed with two axis of rotation which allow optimum positioning of parts for manufacturing. Tooling: a work-holding or support device used in the manufacturing industry used to securely locate and support the work. Torch Maintenance Station/Torch Cleaning System (Reamer): A mechanized device used to removes spatter and debris from the robotic welding torch nozzle. It can also include functions such as a wire clipper and anti-spatter mister. Turntable Diameter: The diameter of the table that rotates in a work cell. Turntable Positioner: A table that turns 180 degrees, allowing the operator to prepare the work on one side while the robot welds on the other. U V Vision Systems: Automatic image-capturing to inspect, evaluate and process stationary or moving parts or images. W Weld Gas Distribution Station: The area where gas bottles are located and gas is dispersed. There are different types of distribution stations, including tied-in, bank and individual. The system can be on a machine, or multiple bottles can be hooked up to a system providing gas for multiple machines. Weld Gas Flow Meter: The flow rate of the gas going to a particular machine. It can be hooked up to a bank, and each machine must be set to a specific gas flow rate. Weld Ground Isolation: Prevents grounding through auxiliary axis if there is a malfunction of the welding process resulting in less time in repairs and increased uptime due to protection of axis motor. Welding Power Source: A controlling device that provides a continuous supply of electrical current and voltage to maintain a welding arc. Welding Robot Arm: Welding that is performed and controlled by a programmable mechanized tool. Welding Torch (robotic gun): A device that conducts electrical current and delivers the weld wire and shielding gas to the arc upon completing a circuit. Wire Detect Sensors (Touch Sensing): A robot program that runs an electrical charge through the wire and shorts out when it touches the part. If the part is not square in the fixture, the touching of the wire to the part will adjust the program, ensuring the robot welds in the correct location. Wire Feeder: A mechanism mounted on a robot arm that controls the rate of weld wire during arc welding with an electric motor and a set of drive rolls. Work Envelope/Work Area: The robot's range of movement without intrusion to perform its operations. Sometimes, the shape of the workspace and position of the manipulator can restrict the work envelope. This does not necessarily equal the envelope that can be effectively welded. Work Space: The volume of space in which the robot can perform given tasks. It is a portion of the maximum reach space. Work Zone: Physical area where the part is processed can be single or dual. X Y Z Zero Friction Wire Delivery: Prevents friction on the wire while it travels through the conduit to provide better feeding. A series of rollers guides the wire to prevent friction. d <
