Carbon Fiber Robotic Arms

"With the increase in models per manufacturing line, handling jigs are designed with more and more components on them. This results in robots becoming overloaded. Not only are some robots overloaded in out right pay load, but are also overloaded in terms of inertial or dynamic loading. Robot life, maintenance and wear are all effected. These issues can be eliminated by reducing payload weight and inertia of these handling jigs. Tests were completed to explore the possibility of using composites. These tests show that these materials will decrease manufacturing costs while improving safety." Automotive OEM

Advantages of BAC Engineered Carbon Fiber Robotic Arms vs. Steel and Aluminum

1. Lightweight

The extraordinary lightweight of a BAC Carbon Fiber robotic arm has significantly lower inertia allowing the robotic arm to be moved and stopped more quickly with less power.

2. Vibration Dampening

The BAC carbon fiber robotic arm has inherent vibration dampening characteristics due to the epoxy matrix and the high stiffness of the custom carbon fiber design. Once this beam has been moved into position, these characteristics will quickly eliminate any vibrations caused by the motion. This allows for rapid positioning of the robotic arm which greatly increases manufacturing speed and efficiency. In addition, this reduction in inertia or dynamic loading increases robot life and reduces maintenance.

3. Zero Coefficient of Thermal Expansion

The BAC carbon fiber robotic arm with its zero coefficient of thermal expansion is a perfect solution for precise measuring inspection equipment.

Simple Analysis Diagram Demonstration

All robotic arm types assume the same fixed parameters: same diameter, same wall thickness, same length and same 10 lb. load (2.5" O.D., 2.0" I.D., and 25" long), except (w) which is the weight of each type of beam.

Cantilever Beam Analysis Results

This simple analysis demonstration reveals:

1. Same Maximum Deflection as Steel

The BAC carbon fiber beam has about the same static and dynamic deflection as the steel beam. However, due to the inherent vibration dampening characteristics of the BAC carbon fiber beam, it results in more rapid positioning.

2. 60% Less Deflection than Aluminum

60% less deflection results in much more rapid positioning.

3. 31% Reduction in Required Power vs. Steel

31% reduction in torque on the robot mechanism means less power required and less wear and maintenance on the robot itself.

Why BAC Engineered Robotic Arms?

We specialize in carbon fiber shafts of all types. We are an engineering-driven composite design and manufacturing company. We have complete engineering, manufacturing, and testing capabilities to take any robotic arm design program from concept through verification testing and final production implementation. We manufacture our carbon fiber robotic arms in-house from the raw carbon fiber to the finished assembly. Our joint design is a unique/proprietary combination of geometry, material selection and manufacturing process methods. This has resulted in a structure that has had zero field service failures over a wide variety of shaft types and over multiple years of production.