Course Catalogue

LJMU Partner Taught

This unit will develop learners’ understanding of robots and the skills needed to program them for a range of industrial applications.

Outline Syllabus:Manipulator elements: electrical and fluid drive systems such as harmonic, cycloidal, shaft, rod, screw, belt, chain; sensors such as absolute and incremental encoders, potentiometers, resolvers, tachometers; brakes; counterbalance devices Control elements: CPU; system and user memory; interface modules; power modules Intelligence: relating to proximity, range, position, force, temperature, sound and gas Sources of error or malfunction: environmental contamination such as smoke, arc-flash, dirt, fluids, heat; parallax; wear; data corruption; accessibility; sensitivity; accuracy; design Programming methods: task programming; manual data input; teach programming; explicit programming; goal-directed programming Facilities: conditional loops; datum shifts; location shifts; interrupts; peripheral communications; TCP offsets; canned cycles; macros Industrial tasks: such as welding; assembly; machining; gluing; surface coating; machine loading Setting up and executing the program: program/location input; start-up inter-locking; program testing; fine-tuning; automatic operation Design parameters: layout; cycle times; control; accessibility; error detection; component specification; protection of the robot and peripherals, future developments; hazard analysis such as human, robot design, robot operation, workplace layout, hardware failure, control system failure, control system malfunction, software failure, external equipment failure, external sensor failure; guarding; fencing; intrusion monitoring; safe system of work; restriction mechanisms Selection criteria: accuracy; repeatability; velocity; range; operation cycle time; load-carrying capacity; life expectancy; reliability; maintenance requirements; control and play-back; cost; memory; fitness for purpose; working envelope Design: station configuration; parts presentation; fixtures; parts recognition; sensors; cell services; safety interlocks; end effector design; flexibility Implementation factors: company familiarisation; planning; robot manufacturer back-up; economic analysis and ethical implications; installations scheduling; training