Energy efficient usage of industrial robots for machining processes

Robot guided machining has a great potential to substitute or supplement machining with expensive machine tools as well as the inaccurate manual processing in industrial production systems. Beside the costs and quality, energy efficiency is one of the most relevant factors for the implementation of innovative and sustainable technologies. The Fraunhofer Institute for Production Systems and Design Technology IPK investigated the total energy performance of a milling robot system. As a result of this investigation, an energy balance of the system was created. In addition, application-specific cutting parameters, path strategies for an energy-optimized usage of the system were identified. These information allow energy-optimized path planning in CAM systems and can be implemented in energy management systems. The results can help to qualify the robot guided machining for new industrial fields.