This can be a sponsored article delivered to you by Freudenberg Sealing Technologies.
The growing deployment of collaborative robots (cobots) in outside environments presents vital engineering challenges, requiring extremely superior sealing options to make sure reliability and sturdiness. Not like industrial robots that function in managed indoor environments, outside cobots are uncovered to excessive climate situations that may compromise their mechanical integrity. Upkeep robots utilized in servicing wind generators, for instance, should endure intense temperature fluctuations, excessive humidity, extended UV radiation publicity, and highly effective wind masses. Equally, agricultural robots function in harsh situations the place they’re repeatedly uncovered to abrasive mud, chemically aggressive fertilizers and pesticides, and mechanical stresses from tough terrains.
To make sure these robotic programs keep long-term performance, sealing options should supply efficient safety towards environmental ingress, mechanical put on, corrosion, and chemical degradation. Out of doors robots should carry out flawlessly in temperature ranges spanning from scorching warmth to freezing chilly whereas withstanding fixed publicity to moisture, lubricants, solvents, and different contaminants. As well as, sealing programs have to be resilient to steady vibrations and mechanical shocks, that are inherent to robotic movement and may speed up materials fatigue over time.
Complete Technical Necessities for Robotic Sealing Options
The event of sealing options for outside robotics calls for an intricate steadiness of sturdiness, flexibility, and resistance to put on. Robotic joints, notably these in high-mobility programs, expertise multidirectional actions inside confined set up areas, making the choice of applicable sealing supplies and geometries essential. Conventional elastomeric O-rings, extensively utilized in industrial functions, typically fail underneath such excessive situations. Publicity to excessive temperatures may cause thermal degradation, whereas steady mechanical stress accelerates fatigue, resulting in early seal failure. Chemical incompatibility with lubricants, fuels, and cleansing brokers additional contributes to materials degradation, shortening operational lifespans.
Friction-related put on is one other crucial concern, particularly in robotic joints that function at excessive speeds. Extreme friction not solely generates warmth however also can have an effect on motion precision. In collaborative robotics, the place robots work alongside people, such inefficiencies pose security dangers by delaying response instances and decreasing movement accuracy. Moreover, extended publicity to UV radiation may cause typical sealing supplies to develop into brittle and crack, additional compromising their efficiency.
Superior IPSR Expertise: Tailor-made for Cobots
To handle these demanding situations, Freudenberg Sealing Applied sciences has developed a specialised sealing answer: Ingress Protection Seals for Robots (IPSR). Not like typical seals that depend on metallic springs for mechanical help, the IPSR design options an progressive Z-shaped geometry that dynamically adapts to the axial and radial actions typical in robotic joints.
Quite a few seals are required in cobots and these are uncovered to excessive speeds and forces.Freudenberg Sealing Applied sciences
This distinctive structural design distributes mechanical masses extra effectively, considerably decreasing friction and put on over time. Whereas conventional spring-supported seals are inclined to degrade as a consequence of mechanical fatigue, the IPSR configuration eliminates this limitation, making certain long-lasting efficiency. Moreover, the optimized contact strain reduces frictional forces in robotic joints, thereby minimizing warmth era and increasing part lifespans. This leads to decrease upkeep necessities, an important consider functions the place downtime can result in vital operational disruptions.
Optimized By Superior Simulation Methods
The event of IPSR expertise relied extensively on Finite Aspect Evaluation (FEA) simulations to optimize seal geometries, materials choice, and floor textures earlier than bodily prototyping. These superior computational methods allowed engineers to foretell and improve seal habits underneath real-world operational situations.
FEA simulations targeted on key efficiency elements corresponding to frictional forces, contact strain distribution, deformation underneath load, and long-term fatigue resistance. By iteratively refining the design based mostly on simulation knowledge, Freudenberg engineers have been in a position to develop a sealing answer that balances minimal friction with most sturdiness.
Moreover, these simulations offered insights into how IPSR seals would carry out underneath excessive situations, together with publicity to humidity, fast temperature adjustments, and extended mechanical stress. This predictive method enabled early detection of potential failure factors, permitting for focused enhancements earlier than mass manufacturing. By decreasing the necessity for intensive bodily testing, Freudenberg was in a position to speed up the event cycle whereas making certain high-performance reliability.
Materials Improvements: Superior Resistance and Longevity
The effectiveness of a sealing answer is basically decided by its materials composition. Freudenberg makes use of superior elastomeric compounds, together with Fluoroprene XP and EPDM, each chosen for his or her distinctive chemical resistance, mechanical energy, and thermal stability.
Fluoroprene XP, particularly, gives superior resistance to aggressive chemical compounds, together with solvents, lubricants, fuels, and industrial cleansing brokers. Moreover, its resilience towards ozone and UV radiation makes it a super selection for outside functions the place steady publicity to daylight might in any other case result in materials degradation. EPDM, alternatively, gives excellent flexibility at low temperatures and glorious getting old resistance, making it appropriate for functions that require long-term sturdiness underneath fluctuating environmental situations.
To additional improve efficiency, Freudenberg applies specialised solid-film lubricant coatings to IPSR seals. These coatings considerably cut back friction and remove stick-slip results, making certain clean robotic movement and exact motion management. This friction administration not solely improves power effectivity but additionally enhances the general responsiveness of robotic programs, an important consider high-precision automation.
In depth Validation By Actual-World Testing
Whereas superior simulations present crucial insights into seal habits, empirical testing stays important for validating real-world efficiency. Freudenberg subjected IPSR seals to rigorous sturdiness checks, together with extended publicity to moisture, mud, temperature biking, chemical immersion, and mechanical vibration.
All through these checks, IPSR seals constantly achieved IP65 certification, demonstrating their capability to successfully forestall environmental contaminants from compromising robotic elements. Actual-world deployment in upkeep robotics for wind generators and agricultural automation additional confirmed their reliability, with intensive put on evaluation displaying considerably prolonged operational lifetimes in comparison with conventional sealing applied sciences.
Security By Superior Friction Administration
In collaborative robotics, sealing efficiency performs a direct function in operational security. Extreme friction in robotic joints can delay emergency-stop responses and cut back movement precision, posing potential hazards in human-robot interplay. By incorporating low-friction coatings and optimized sealing geometries, Freudenberg ensures that robotic programs reply quickly and precisely, enhancing office security and effectivity.
Tailor-made Sealing Options for Numerous Robotic Methods
Freudenberg Sealing Applied sciences gives custom-made sealing options throughout a variety of robotic functions, making certain optimum efficiency in numerous environments.
Automated Guided Autos (AGVs) function in industrial settings the place they’re uncovered to abrasive contaminants, mechanical vibrations, and chemical publicity. Freudenberg employs strengthened PTFE composites to boost sturdiness and defend inner elements.
Delta robots can carry out advanced actions at excessive velocity. This requires seals that meet the excessive dynamic and acceleration necessities.Freudenberg Sealing Applied sciences
Delta robots, generally utilized in meals processing, prescribed drugs, and precision electronics, require FDA-compliant supplies that stand up to rigorous cleansing procedures corresponding to Cleansing-In-Place (CIP) and Sterilization-In-Place (SIP). Freudenberg makes use of superior fluoropolymers that keep structural integrity underneath aggressive sanitation processes.
Seals for Scara robots will need to have excessive chemical resistance, compressive energy and thermal resistance to perform reliably in a wide range of industrial environments.Freudenberg Sealing Applied sciences
SCARA robots profit from Freudenberg’s Modular Plastic Sealing Idea (MPSC), which integrates sealing, bearing help, and vibration damping inside a compact, light-weight design. This innovation optimizes robotic weight distribution and extends part service life.
Six-axis robots utilized in automotive, aerospace, and electronics manufacturing require sealing options able to withstanding high-speed operations, mechanical stress, and chemical publicity. Freudenberg’s Premium Sine Seal (PSS), that includes strengthened PTFE liners and specialised elastomer compounds, ensures most sturdiness and minimal friction losses.
Steady Innovation for Future Robotic Purposes
Freudenberg Sealing Applied sciences stays on the forefront of innovation, repeatedly creating new supplies, sealing designs, and validation strategies to handle evolving challenges in robotics. By strategic buyer collaborations, cutting-edge materials science, and state-of-the-art simulation applied sciences, Freudenberg ensures that its sealing options present unparalleled reliability, effectivity, and security throughout all robotic platforms.
