Maintenance Proactivity - The robot lifecycle

In this article, learn about the life cycle of an industrial robot and some tips to extend its useful life.

The competitiveness of the industrial world, where the unexpected downtime of industrial equipment can cost more than a full day of production, leads company managers to be proactive regarding the maintenance of their robots, seeking to anticipate possible failures before they demonstrate and develop, thus causing unwanted stops in the production cycles.

To implement this type of preventive strategy, we need to understand some concepts and collect data that will allow us to take measures that contribute to the reduction and/or elimination of unexpected stops.

What is the life cycle of an industrial robot and how can we contribute to increasing its lifetime?

An industrial robot is defined as a machine that has manipulation resources or mobility functions that are automatically controlled and are capable of performing various tasks, through a program for industrial use purposes.

In other words, industrial robots are not defined by form, but according to their general functions and characteristics. As assets of high value, given their intervening role in an organization, it is advisable to take preventive measures to increase the longevity of their life cycle, avoiding or delaying as much as possible their deterioration.

With respect to a robot, it is important to realize that there is no universal solution for maintenance, and there may be a learning curve when it comes to how a robot works.

The life cycle of a well-preserved robot, regardless of the different particularities of the various existing models, must involve:

• Installation and Configuration: The initial part of the cycle focuses on the efficiency of the installation and correct configuration of robots in conjunction with the peripheral equipment;
• Optimization: Cycle optimization includes increasing throughput and reducing cycle times. This phase is closely related to the specific tasks performed by robots (Welding, Manipulation, Palletizing or others), and it is important not to consider only the robots, but the applications as a whole;
• Maintenance Programs: During this cycle, regular preventive maintenance and system and security audits must be carried out. Having a defined and oriented program that adds value, planned to ensure maximum robot performance and at the same time provide a good ROI (Return on Investment) over the life of the equipment is essential to maintain the equipment's performance at high standards;
• Analysis and Continuous Improvement: This phase of the robots life cycle consists of evaluating, inspecting, analyzing and controlling the data collected during maintenance programs;
• Rebuild/Redeploy: Today's robots are extremely reliable and built to last for several years, however there comes a time when rebuilding and redeploying, or even replacing, becomes inevitable and/or critical. When this happens, your robot supplier must be able to answer your questions and lead you through this process so that the equipment maintains its performance at high levels.

Robots or other critical equipment can fail at inopportune times, causing unexpected and unwanted downtime and costs. In this context, the definition of preventive measures represents an extremely important support, leading to a faster response capacity and adaptation to unexpected moments.

In this context, the After Sales Department of ROBOPLAN, representative of the YASKAWA-MOTOMAN brand, offers a set of services that can meet the needs of its customers and partners with regard to the definition of preventive action plans and the planning of maintenance of its robots.

Contact us using the email service@roboplan.pt or telephone +351 234 943 900.