Plastic Robot Arm Link With Embedded Metal Insertions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Plastic robot arm links suffer from low stiffness and creep effects due to their material properties, affecting their accuracy and ability to withstand external forces and fastening with metal parts, which are not adequately addressed by existing hybrid structures in robotics.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a material with a higher elastic modulus, such as metal or composite materials, into the plastic robot arm links through embedding insertions within the body or connection, enhancing stiffness and strength while reducing creep effects, and allowing for uniform thickness and easier manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If plastic material is used for robot arm links, then weight is reduced and strength to weight ratio is improved, but stiffness and resistance to creep are significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a hybrid structure combining plastic material with metal insertions (such as steel or aluminum) to create a composite robot arm link. The plastic portions maintain lightweight characteristics while the metal insertions provide high stiffness and strength, achieving an optimal balance between weight reduction and mechanical performance enhancement.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the entire robot arm link from metal, the patent applies metal insertions only in specific critical regions where high stiffness is required, such as connection areas and load-bearing zones. This localized application of high-stiffness material optimizes the strength-to-weight ratio by concentrating structural reinforcement where most needed.
2Strength
If hybrid structures are used to increase stiffness, then elastic modulus is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates metal insertions directly into the plastic robot arm link structure through embedding, creating a unified hybrid component. This merging approach combines the advantages of both plastic (lightweight, cost-effective) and metal (high stiffness, strength) materials into a single integrated structure, reducing the need for separate components and assembly steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid structure combines plastic and metal materials in a coordinated manner where each material complements the other's properties. The plastic matrix provides lightweight construction and corrosion resistance, while embedded metal elements provide structural reinforcement and stiffness, creating a composite system that achieves high elastic modulus without excessive complexity.
3Strength
If metal insertions are embedded in plastic body, then stiffness and strength are enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The metal insertions are prepared and positioned in advance before the plastic injection molding process. By pre-placing the metal elements in their final positions within the mold cavity, the patent enables seamless integration during manufacturing, avoiding complex post-assembly operations and reducing overall manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple manufacturing operations into a single integrated process by embedding metal insertions during the plastic injection molding cycle. This merging of operations allows the hybrid structure to be manufactured in one step rather than requiring separate manufacturing and assembly processes, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity despite the advanced material combination.
Data Source
AI summary
A plastic robot arm link for a robot includes a body made of plastic material, a connection arranged on the body and adapted to be coupled to a further plastic robot arm link or a transmission part of the robot, and an insertion made of material with a higher strength or stiffness than the plastic material and embedded in the body and/or the connection. By embedding the material with higher strength or stiffness within the body of the robot arm link made of plastic material, the stiffness and strength of the robot arm link can be enhanced. In addition, due to the presence of highly rigid materials, the creep effect of the plastic arm is also significantly reduced, improving the accuracy of the robot.