Robots in machining

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cirp.2019.05.009

Robotic machining centers offer diverse advantages: large operation reach with large reorientation capability, low footprint, and low cost, to name a few. There are also many challenges, which have slowed down the adoption and, in some cases, have inhibited the use of robots for machining tasks. This paper deals with the current usage and status of robots in machining, as well as the necessary modelling and identification for enabling optimization, process planning and process control. Recent research addressing deburring, milling, incremental forming, polishing and thin wall machining is presented. Focusing on latest academic research approaches and current industrial application fields, this paper thus gives an overview of various processes in which robots need to deal with significant process forces while fulfilling their machining task.