| Maintenance is an important component in the | | | | maintenance of your industrial robots and robot |
| long-term efficiency and productivity of industrial | | | | systems is essential not only from a productivity |
| robots and robot systems. Regular maintenance is | | | | stand point but also from a safety point of view. |
| important to keep your equipment on-line. Having a | | | | Regular inspection and maintenance should prevent or |
| comprehensive maintenance schedule and checklist | | | | minimize hazards caused by malfunction and breakage |
| will allow you to stay on track and avoid costly | | | | of the system's components. Service, maintenance |
| repairs and extended down time. Scheduled | | | | and inspection records should be kept along with |
| maintenance and inspection intervals are an excellent | | | | identification of who performed the tasks. Accurate |
| way to ensure that you will catch most issues before | | | | record keeping ensures that your inspection and |
| they become a problem and cost you money in | | | | maintenance program stays on track. |
| diminished production quality and lost production time. | | | | Protecting maintenance and repair personnel can be |
| Your regularly scheduled maintenance and inspection | | | | difficult because their jobs encompass a wide range |
| program should be comprised of the | | | | of activities placing them in direct contact with the |
| recommendations of the robot manufacturer along | | | | robot and robot systems. Safeguarding techniques |
| with the recommended maintenance and inspection | | | | and procedures for maintenance and repair personnel |
| procedures of the other component manufacturers | | | | are spelled out in the ANSI/RIA R15.06 standard. |
| of your robot system. Schedules are based on time | | | | While maintenance and repair work is being |
| period intervals or production usage. Industrial Robots | | | | performed, having trained and experienced personnel |
| maintenance and inspection program should | | | | ensures that safeguarding techniques and procedures |
| encompass robot peripherals and system | | | | will be followed. OSHA guidelines for robotics safety, |
| components like conveyors or parts feeders. | | | | the ANSI/RIA standard, and the National Institute for |
| Checking for faults or problems with the robot, | | | | Occupational Safety and Health publication on safe |
| tooling, controller and all the associated equipment | | | | maintenance guidelines outline important |
| during the scheduled maintenance and inspection | | | | considerations, techniques and procedures regarding |
| program allows you to make adjustments to the | | | | robotic workstation safety. |
| system in a timely fashion. Preventative maintenance | | | | Setting up a maintenance and inspection program |
| such as recalibrations, tooling adjustments, and | | | | entails taking into account manufacturer's |
| bearing replacement can be performed before | | | | recommendations, use of safety systems/ |
| equipment failure occurs. A maintenance policy sets | | | | procedures, and production issues. A well-planned |
| up company rules for when preventative | | | | program and maintenance policy ensures less |
| maintenance should be done. | | | | production time lost, greater worker safety and |
| Following the recommendations for inspection and | | | | better equipment performance. |