Shear Pin Breakaway Design for Safe Robot Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional calibration pins for industrial robots are prone to causing damage when excessive force or speed is applied during calibration, as they lack a mechanism to limit the exerted force effectively.
Innovation Solution
A shear pin with a weakening waist, made of hardened steel, is designed to break under overload, featuring a cylindrical contact part and mounting part with a spring-loaded steel ring and a softer core for protection, preventing damage to the robot by absorbing energy and maintaining contact part integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional rigid calibration pin is used, then the robot can be calibrated, but the robot may be damaged if excessive force or speed is applied during calibration
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration pin is segmented into a strong outer body and a weaker inner core, creating a controlled weak point that allows the pin to break at a predetermined location under excessive force, protecting the robot while maintaining calibration functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The softer core material acts as a predetermined weak point that absorbs excess energy before the harder outer body can transmit damaging forces to the robot, providing beforehand cushioning against potential damage
2Strength
If a hardened steel calibration pin is used, then the pin is durable, but it can exert excessive force on the robot during calibration
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the calibration pin have different material properties - the outer body is made of hardened steel for durability, while the inner core is made of softer material to limit force transmission, applying local quality variation to solve the contradiction
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration pin uses composite construction with hardened steel outer body and softer inner core material, combining materials with different properties to achieve both durability and force limitation simultaneously
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The shear pin effectively limits the force exerted during calibration, preventing robot damage by breaking at a predetermined force, thus protecting the robot from excessive contact forces and ensuring safe operation.
Implementation Method 1
a weakening defining a break location in case of overload
Implementation Method 2
a spring in the groove for keeping the shear pin in place within the calibration pin holder
Implementation Method 3
the core material being softer than the body material
Data Source
AI summary
A shear pin for calibrating an industrial robot, the shear pin including an elongated body including a weakening defining a break location in case of overload. The shear pin is configured to be mounted to a calibration pin holder on the robot. A maximum force that the calibration pin can exert on the robot during calibration can be easily limited by dimensioning the weakening appropriately.