Robotic arm will know what to do – Nauka – Kommersant

In the laboratory “Electrophysical Technologies” of the Department of Casting, a six-position robot-manipulator began to operate, which can perform volumetric electric arc surfacing along complex trajectories.

A robotic arm is an analogue of a human hand. Only our hand has up to 31 degrees of freedom (axes) taking into account the wrist part, and this robotic arm has 6 degrees (axes) of freedom, simulating a hand from the forearm to the hand.

The functionality of such a robot can be different: moving objects in space with a high-precision location (feeding) of objects into the working area of ​​another device, removing them from the working area, feeding and fixing during installation; performing operations for machining workpieces, welding, surfacing, etc. It all depends on which tool is placed at the end of the robotic arm. Capture – moving objects in space; cutter or cutter – machining robotic machine; welding torch – welding along complex paths, surfacing, etc. A control program is developed for each tool so that the robot knows what to do and how to do it.

We have implemented the function of volumetric surfacing, in fact, creating the possibility of 3D printing of objects made of metals and alloys using the method of electric arc surfacing. The holder for the welding torch was made by undergraduates using reverse engineering technology, additive technologies for the manufacture of foundry tooling and standard casting processes for burnt-out models.

Surfacing parameters (current, voltage, wire feed speed into the arc burning zone, wire diameter and material) are set on a semi-automatic welding machine. Movement of the welding torch in space – by the robot according to the control program created by the operator.

It was provided for free use by the industrial partners of the Polytechnic University – Volgaenergoprom State Corporation and Chamber of Commerce and Industry “Welding Group Samara”, and specialized software for the development of control programs – the Sprut Kam company. The undergraduates of the department designed and manufactured equipment for mounting the welding torch. The material for surfacing is a wire made of different metals and alloys.

In the future, the creation of a hybrid technology that combines elements of additive and subtractive processes. This requires another robotic arm that will perform the function of a robotic machining machine. And to obtain high-quality surfacing, we plan to integrate an inductor for magnetic-pulse processing of the deposited layers. And this will be a distinctive novelty of our project. The inductor and installation for magnetic pulse processing will be developed by our colleagues from the Samara National Research University named after academician S.P. Korolev (Samara University).

Prepared with the assistance of the Ministry of Education and Science