Robotic safety begins with planning. By asking the right safety questions early on, companies save money, time, and lives. Designing a safety system for a robotic work cell can be complicated, but it is well worth the effort.
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Evaluating Risks
The first step towards safety design is a formal risk assessment. Every potential hazard or environmental influence must be considered. Once hazards are identified, they can be classified by certain criteria, such as severity, frequency, and avoidance possibilities. -
Safeguarding Technology
A thorough understanding of all the safeguarding options and capabilities saves time and money. Safety system designers must be knowledgeable about proper installation and every intricacy of integration. Distances must be carefully calculated so safety devices stop hazards before workers reach them. -
Perimeter Guarding
Protective safety environment begins with the right fencing. There are many different choices for perimeter guarding. Determining which type of guarding to choose depends on the application. Sometimes both hard and light types of guarding are used. Perimeter guards must work seamlessly with the work cell.- Hard-Guarding: This variety of guarding includes physical fencing and interlocking safety latches.
- Light Curtains: Light curtains provide more flexibility. These optical perimeter guards trigger robot systems when their light is interrupted.
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Protection on the Inside
Protection is often necessary in the interior of a work cell. Safety scanners provide a surveillance sweep within the cell. They offer increased flexibility. Light curtains can be installed for this purpose as well. -
Designing Safety Solutions
The engineering staff at RobotWorx works alongside each customer to determine the best safety solution. We understand the importance of preparation. Turn to RobotWorx for customized safety environments. Call 740-383-8383 for more information.
