Mechanical Joining

Mechanical Fastening / Joining with Motoman Robots

When it comes to robotic automation of a mechanical joining operation, Automation Experts often prefer to let the robot move the workpiece, not the fastener tool. Fastening machinery is often designed for stationary installation (e.g. on a stand) as they require media supply (power, fastener feeding) and may cause reaction forces/moments or vibrations during the joining process.

But for those cases where the robot is operating an assembly tool like a fastener, nutrunner, riveter, clinch tool, it is good to know that the industrial quality of all Motoman GP, HC, SIA and SDA series robots is absolutely rigid and strong enough to withstand the reaction forces/moments and vibrations resulting from the assembly process.

Press Joining (Clinching, Grimping) with Motoman Robots

In Automotive Body Shop Applications, Robots typically carry the Clinching Tool, while General Industry Applications tend to use the robot for handling workpieces under a stationary clinching station.

Riveting with Motoman Robots

The riveting method is more than 200 years old, but still used in today's car light aluminium or material mix car body designs.

Blind Riveting with Motoman Robots

Blind riveting is used in Aircraft Industry and home appliance products like ladders. Motoman Robots are stable enough to keep their position during the riveting process, allowing an optional in-process force/stroke quality monitoring of the riveting process.

As typical workpieces are rather long, we recommend rather long reach manipulator models from our GP Series.

Press-fitting with Motoman Robots

In press fitting applications, robots are handling workpieces below a press spindle.

Screwdriving / Nutrunners with GP Series Robots

In engine assembly, nutrunning applications (without automatic screw feeding) are very common. The robot moves the fastener tool picking up the fasteners with a magnetic or suction bit, moves to the target position and tightens the screws. Same as manual nutrunners, reaction torques can be compensated by mechanical supports or multi-spindles compensating each other.

Automatic Screw Feeding

Screwdrivers with automatic feeding are usew with handheld or stationary screwdrivng spindles, but robots are getting more and more involved here these days. This is a good playground for automation with higher payload collaborative robots (Cobots) like the HC10, allowing fenceless operation and safe hand-in-hand collaboration with human workers, who may be able to execute other assembly or checking tasks while the robot is working in parallel. The integrated High-Speed PLC (standard with all Yaskawa Robot Controllers) is capable to control the feeding U/O sequences, and even an integration into the robot controller's machine safety signals and functional safety settings is possible.

Flexible Screw Feeding with Vibration Feeders

Vibration Part Feeders are an innovative way to present parts or fasteners to a robot. In combination with smart feeders, small Robots like the MotoMini, SG400 or GP8 are an alternative to classical vibratory bowl feeders. This screw feeding method is not cheaper or faster than classical screw feeding, but much more flexible and stable - less tolerance requirements for the screws, faster setup without need of sample fasteners, and less vulnerable to geometry or batch production tolerance changes of the screw.

Fastener (PEM / Clip / Locknut / Plug) Insertion with Motoman Robots

Robotic Fastener Insertion is a common Automotive Application, however there are many General Industry Applications, often in combination with other assembly processes.