Automation equipment is a complex system with a wide variety of parts and components. The following lists the most core and common categories:
I. Power and actuators:
Motor:
Servo motor: High-precision, high-response speed position, speed, and torque control core. A servo driver is required.
Stepper motor: Open-loop control, low cost, suitable for occasions where precision requirements are not too high. A stepper driver is required.
AC asynchronous motor: High versatility, low cost, often used to drive fans, water pumps, conveyor belts, etc. Frequency converter speed regulation is usually required.
DC motor: Certain specific applications (such as AGV drive wheels).
Linear motor: Directly generates linear motion, high speed and high precision.
Driver: Servo drive, stepper drive, frequency converter. Receive control signals and drive the motor to run.
Cylinder: Use compressed air to generate linear motion. An air source (air compressor, filter, pressure reducing valve, oil mist three-way) and solenoid valve control are required.
Hydraulic cylinder: Use hydraulic oil to generate high torque linear motion. Requires hydraulic pump station, control valve, etc.
Electric cylinder: Converts the rotary motion of servo/stepper motor into precise linear motion, integrating motor, driver (optional), lead screw/belt, etc.
Vacuum generator and suction cup: Used to grab flat and smooth objects (such as glass, plates, cartons).
Sensing and detection elements:
Position sensor: Photoelectric switch, proximity switch (inductive, capacitive), limit switch, magnetic switch, encoder (incremental, absolute), grating ruler, laser displacement sensor
Machine vision components: Industrial camera, lens, light source, image acquisition card, visual processing software.
Force/torque sensor: Used at the end of the robot or in situations where force control is required.
Other physical quantity sensors: Pressure sensor, flow sensor, temperature sensor, liquid level sensor, vibration sensor, etc.
Safety sensor: Safety light curtain, safety laser scanner, emergency stop button, safety door lock, etc., for personnel safety protection.
II. Control core:
PLC: Programmable logic controller, the brain of industrial automation, responsible for logic control, sequential control, and data processing. I/O modules (digital input/output, analog input/output), communication modules, power modules, etc. are required.
Industrial PC/industrial computer: Used for more complex data processing, human-machine interface, machine vision, motion control (such as PC-Based control).
Motion controller: Specially used for complex multi-axis coordinated motion control (such as robots, CNC), can be an independent card or integrated in PLC/PC.
Microcontroller: Used for simple or embedded devices.
Touch screen/HMI: Human-machine interaction interface, used for parameter setting, status monitoring, and operation control.
Transmission and mechanical components:
Reducer: Reduce speed and increase torque. Such as planetary reducer, harmonic reducer (commonly used in robot joints), worm gear reducer, RV reducer.
Coupling: Connects the motor shaft and the load shaft, transmits torque and compensates for deviation (plum coupling, diaphragm coupling, bellows coupling, etc.).
Screw and nut: Converts rotary motion into precise linear motion (ball screw, trapezoidal screw).
Linear guide and slider: Provides high-precision, low-friction linear guide.
Synchronous belt/synchronous wheel, chain/sprocket: Transmits motion and power.
Bearing: Supports rotating parts and reduces friction (deep groove ball bearings, angular contact bearings, needle bearings, linear bearings, etc.).
Shaft, bushing, key, pin: Mechanical connection and positioning.
Gear, rack: Transmits rotary motion or converts rotary motion into linear motion.
Spring: Provides elastic force, buffering, reset, etc.
Frame and structural parts: Support skeleton of equipment (aluminum profiles, steel plate welded parts, etc.).
III. Electrical and connection components:
Relays and contactors: Control the on and off of high current loads.
Circuit breakers and fuses: Circuit protection.
Switching power supply: Provide DC power for control systems, sensors, etc.
Transformer: Voltage conversion.
Terminals: Electrical connection points.
Cables and connectors: Power lines, control lines, communication cables (network cables, CAN bus, RS485, etc.) and their connectors.
Cable drag chains: Protect cables on moving parts.
V. Pneumatic and hydraulic components:
Air source processing components: Filters, pressure reducing valves, oil mist collectors.
Directional control valves: Solenoid valves (control cylinder movements), manual valves, air control valves.
Flow control valves: Throttle valves, speed control valves (control cylinder speed).
Pressure control valves: Overflow valves, sequence valves, etc.
VI. Network and communication modules:
Ethernet switches, fieldbus modules, industrial wireless modules, etc., are used for data communication between internal components of the equipment and between the equipment and the upper system.
VII. Auxiliary and consumable parts:
Lubrication system: automatic oiler, lubricating oil/grease.
Cooling system: fan, radiator, coolant.
Protective components: sheet metal cover, safety door, protective cover, dust ring, seal.
Tools and end effectors: robot grippers (pneumatic, electric, vacuum), welding guns, spray guns, grinding tools, tightening shafts, etc. These are usually highly customized.
Conveyor belts and rollers: essential for assembly lines.
Fasteners: screws, nuts, washers, etc.
Summary:
The core of automation equipment lies in perception (sensor), decision-making (controller/PLC/industrial PC), execution (motor/cylinder/hydraulic cylinder and its driver) and transmission (screw, guide rail, reducer, etc.).
The choice of spare parts depends on the specific function, accuracy requirements, load, speed, working environment and cost budget of the equipment. When designing automation equipment, it is necessary to select appropriate components from the above categories and integrate the system according to application requirements. For non-standard automation equipment, the design and manufacture of mechanical structural parts (frames, fixtures, special mechanisms) are also crucial parts.