Page 17 - Spring 2024
P. 17
ROBOTICS NEWS
Five-axis Robots solve Domestic Appliance (OEMs) will over-order harnesses in order to
Wiring Challenges guarantee that they will have sufficient stock to
manage quality control, for example if harnesses
In the modern world robots are able to assemble
become damaged as a result of wires being
mechanical parts and automatically place
bent, twisted or pushed during final assembly of
surface mount components to populate printed
the appliance. In addition, such harnesses are
circuit boards, but so far wiring harnesses
commonly over-specified in terms of conductor
have been unable to be incorporated into the
size to achieve the required ruggedness and
full automated process. Wiring harnesses in
insulation added to prevent short-circuiting. All of
domestic appliances remain a complex tangle of
this adds cost to the end product.
wires and connectors and have been recognised
as the last major barrier to manufacturing Now, a robot cell designed for ‘electrical function
automation for domestic appliances. integration’ ( total or partial replacement of
traditional wire harnesses ) has been developed in
Currently 90 per cent of wiring harnesses are still an attempt to counter these issues. This five-axis
assembled by hand and have connectors added. robot with interchangeable tool heads, known as
These harnesses require 100 per cent testing and end effectors, is able to add well-secured bare
typically operating equipment manufacturers
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