Performances of a Hybrid Drive Robot for Steel Machining

The use of industrial robots in machining is typically limited due to their lower static and dynamic stiffness compared to traditional machine tools, restricting them to softer materials and low-force tasks like polishing and deburring. Despite this, the growing demand for flexible machining solutions and advances in near-net-shape component manufacture (e.g. additive manufacturing) present new opportunities for robots. This study investigates a self-built robot designed for machining, featuring hybrid drives to enhance its dynamic. The experimental setup assesses the robot’s static and dynamic stiffness, concluding with a performance evaluation on a steel test specimen.