Improving Automation with Collaborative Robots

The average person outside of manufacturing generally envisions robots either as large and awkward mechanical structures safely removed from assembly line personnel or futuristic, human-like helpers that handle daily chores with little supervision. Today, robots tend to fall somewhere between those two concepts. The new class of robots known as collaborative robots are designed to work directly alongside employees, with no need for safety caging.

Earlier this year in our March issue, we covered this “robotics revolution” in a feature article that explained their benefits in helping shops move more intuitively towards automation. Read “Collaborative Robots for DIY Automation” for a closer look at ways to bridge the gap between manual assembly and fully automated manufacturing lines.

For an example of a shop putting this technology to use, read “Collaborative Robots Cut Crown Production Time.” This manufacturer of dental implants is realizing faster turnaround time for crowns by using collaborative robots to tend its machine tools.