Grinding with cobots
Perfect surfaces thanks to constant contact pressure
Manual grinding and polishing is backbreaking work: it is loud, dusty, and the vibrations from the machines put constant strain on your employees' joints. What's more, it is almost impossible to maintain exactly the same contact pressure throughout an entire shift.
Cobots solve this dilemma: thanks to integrated force-torque sensors, the robot "feels" the surface. It maintains constant pressure—whether on a flat surface or a curved edge. The result is a flawless, reproducible finish.
Get in touch with usThe advantages
Reproducible quality:The cobot does not tire. It processes the first component in the morning in exactly the same way as the last one in the evening. No "clouds," no grinding marks due to fluctuating pressure.
Healthy employees: Free your team from "dirty work." The cobot takes over the task directly in the dust and absorbs the harmful vibrations, while the employee performs quality control.
Increase efficiency: A cobot does not need breaks and can even polish overnight if necessary. In addition, automated systems often use less abrasive material because they make optimal use of it.
challenges
Grinding is more than just "going over it." It is a sensitive process. We have the technical solutions for typical problems:
Complex & curved surfaces
Rigid robots fail when it comes to curves. The solution: our cobots have an integrated force mode. You simply specify the desired force (e.g., 20 newtons), and the robot automatically adjusts its path to the curvature of the component—just like a human hand.
Dusty environment
The joints of UR cobots are sealed at the factory to meet industrial standards. The proven e-Series offers IP54 protection, while the new UR-Series generation is even certified as completely dustproof according to IP65. For extremely abrasive or conductive environments (e.g., carbon grinding), we offer special cobot protective suits that completely shield the arm and maximize its service life.
Programming the paths
Programming thousands of waypoints for a car door takes too long. The solution: using path recording tools, you guide the grinding tool over the component once by hand. The robot records the movement and then reproduces it perfectly.
Experience UR cobots in action
Book a cobot demoSuitable technologies
The interaction between the robot and the tool is crucial for a perfect surface finish. The key lies in the system's ability to maintain constant contact pressure, regardless of the component shape.
We offer you a flexible ecosystem: All our cobots come with integrated force control loops as standard, which automatically compensate for uneven surfaces. Combined with the appropriate grinding and polishing kits from our partners, you get a complete solution that is ready for immediate use without any complex interface programming and guarantees consistent removal rates.
cobot
No matter which model you choose, all our cobots come with force mode as standard. They "feel" the resistance of the surface and adjust their movements in real time to maintain the predefined contact pressure – without the need for expensive additional hardware.
About cobots
Processing kits
Complete packages (e.g., from Robotiq or OnRobot) that include everything: eccentric sander, abrasive changer, and software. They are mounted directly on the robot arm and communicate seamlessly with the controller.
To the finishing kits
protective covers
Protect your investment against the most extreme conditions. Although UR cobots are robustly built and dustproof, applications involving conductive dust (e.g., carbon), aggressive cooling lubricants, or extreme dirt loads require additional protection.
Protective accessoriessolution finding
1. Requirements analysis Together, we first analyze component size and tool weight to define the required reach and payload of the cobot. In addition, we check the material properties to determine the appropriate degree of protection (IP class) against grinding dust.
2. Feasibility test In our laboratory, we simulate the grinding process on your sample parts. We validate whether the desired grinding pattern can be achieved with the selected abrasive and cycle time specifications before you invest.
3. Integration & fine-tuning We support you during commissioning and the precise adjustment of sensitive parameters (e.g., constant contact pressure and feed rate) so that you achieve consistent surface quality from day one.
4. Training & Support We train your team on the equipment (e.g., teaching them how to use the tracks and change the abrasives) or at our Academy, and we are also available to provide technical support after your purchase.
Get in touch with us