MU_2018_JulyAugust-HR

www.machineryupdate.co.uk JULY/AUGUST2018 MACHINERY UPDATE 47
PROBms to measure forces
and speeds. Equipped with
springs and appropriate
sensors, the device can record
precisely the forces generated
in a collision with a robot,
and then evaluate them in
software and compare them
with the specifications from
ISO/TS 15066.
The challenge in the basic
‘risk assessment’ for robot
applications is that the
boundaries between separate
working areas for man and
machine have ceased to
exist. As well as the hazards
presented by a robot, the
human’s movements need to
be taken into consideration.
But they are not always
calculable in terms of speed,
reflexes or the sudden arrival
of another person.
Then follow the “safety
concept” and “safety design”
steps, which cover the ‘human
element’ as well as selection
of the correct components.
These are usually a
combination of intelligent
sensors that are interlinked,
and control systems that
make the necessary dynamic
working processes possible
in the first place. The selected
safety measures are then
documented and implemented
in the “system integration”
step. This is followed by
“validation”, when the
previous steps are scrutinised
once again.
When supplying in to
Europe, manufacturers of
robot applications are then
subject to the principle that,
by law, they must complete
the assessment procedure
with CE marking of the
robot application.
The demands on safety
technology always depend
on the respective application.
Safe robot cells can only be set
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This means in practice that
every application calls for
a separate safety assessment.
T 01536 460766
W www.pilz.co.uk
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The collision measuring device
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