| The Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Actuator | | | | with other work stations on the line, and an increase in |
| or SCARA is a variation of articulated robotics. | | | | the abilities and variety of end effectors has caused |
| SCARA has three vertical axes of rotation, while the | | | | an upsurge in the deployment of SCARA robotics. |
| standard articulated robotic has only one. The success | | | | Articulated robotics have taken some of the work that |
| of SCARA robotics can be directly attributed to its | | | | was previously done by SCARA robotics because of |
| method of working. SCARA performs work on a flat | | | | the speed and lower implementation cost of the |
| surface and it tolerates some inaccuracies in its work. | | | | articulated. There are some jobs that SCARA robotics |
| These inaccuracies can be handled by the robot quite | | | | do that no other robots can do, so they have a bright |
| easily. For example if a non-SCARA robot tried to | | | | future ahead. |
| insert a peg into a hole and the hole was not in the | | | | New improvements will keep the SCARA in demand. |
| position that was expected, the robot could not | | | | Installation of the newer version is easier now because |
| accurately account for the misplacement. Thus it | | | | of reduced footprint and less cabling requirements. |
| would not be able to complete the work. If a SCARA | | | | Several models have reduced wiring over what was |
| robot tried to insert the peg into the same hole that | | | | required in earlier models, while increasing scalability |
| was out of place, the robot could adjust to the new | | | | and flexibility. These models have easy, safe operation |
| hole position and complete the insertion operation. | | | | that will produce up to 1600 mm per second. The new |
| The articulated robotic that has a high degree of utility | | | | SCARA models are perfect for high speed assembly |
| has 6 degrees of freedom. These are | | | | and packaging for electronics, automotive, and food |
| - a waist, | | | | industries. The best of these models will now support |
| - a shoulder, | | | | conveyor tracking, vision guidance, and general |
| - an elbow, | | | | machine control. Payload capacities are going up as |
| - a wrist that has the ability to roll, | | | | well to the 20 kilogram level, while increasing the inertia |
| - a wrist that has the ability to pitch, and | | | | to a very fast pace. Having that increase in strength is |
| - a wrist that has the ability to yaw. | | | | not always the best thing, some applications require |
| Even with all these abilities the articulated robotic has | | | | very finite control to be able to handle the smallest |
| its limitations. The SCARA robotic has only three of | | | | most delicate objects. New SCARA robotics can do |
| the degrees of freedom of the articulated: a waist, a | | | | this. |
| shoulder, and an elbow. To this is added a fourth linear | | | | While the abilities of SCARA robotics have gone up, |
| degree of freedom. It is this last capability, which is | | | | the ease of installation and use of the tools has gone |
| called a Z axis, that adds a vertical ability to the other | | | | up as well. Models are now available that require no |
| three rotational abilities. The SCARA robotic has the | | | | programming experience to get them up and running. |
| ability to move vertically. This is a capability that the | | | | The integration features have expanded also. The |
| non-SCARA robotic does not have, it gives the | | | | machines are coming with Ethernet capabilities ready |
| SCARA the ability to raise and lower the end effector | | | | to go, pallet loading abilities built-in, and vision abilities |
| where the work is done. | | | | on-board. Units can be mounted almost anywhere, |
| After a 40 year history SCARA robotics are still very | | | | floor, table, wall, or ceiling, whatever is best for the |
| useful in automation. This device is still the champ for | | | | application. Factory floor space is economized and |
| moving payloads from point A to point B with tasks | | | | production speed is moving fast with very flexible |
| like dispensing, pick and place operations, assembling | | | | machines. The SCARA robotic has come a long way |
| products, and loading products on pallets. Being able to | | | | and will continue to fill the needs of automation for |
| carry heavier payloads, having better working relations | | | | year to come. |