What is the difference between a four-axis and a six-axis robot?

The reason why small assembly robots are favored by more and more packaging companies is that they are now able to handle a variety of packaging production tasks, including assembly, including the processing of all materials, such as pick and place, loading and unloading, packaging and other packaging front ends. Process-related processes, as well as processing operations such as labeling, inspection, and sampling.

It should be pointed out that the small assembly robot referred to in this paper refers to a robot with a maximum payload of up to 20 kg (44 lbs) and a maximum processing distance of up to 1300 mm (51 inches). There are two basic types of such robots: a four-axis SCARA robot (hereinafter referred to as a four-axis robot) and a six-axis joint robot (hereinafter referred to as a six-axis robot). Among them, the four-axis robot is specially designed for high-speed pick and place operations, while the six-axis robot provides higher production flexibility.

Four-axis robot

In the small assembly robot, the "four-axis SCARA robot" refers to the "selective assembly of the joint robot arm", that is, the arm portion of the four-axis robot can move freely in a geometric plane.

The first two joints of the SCARA robot can rotate freely on the left and right in the horizontal plane. The third joint consists of a metal rod called a quill and a gripper. The metal rod can move up and down in a vertical plane or about its vertical axis, but cannot tilt.

This unique design gives four-axis robots a high degree of rigidity, making them capable of high speed and repeatability. In packaging applications, four-axis robots are good at high-speed pick and place and other material handling tasks.

Six-axis robots have two more joints than four-axis robots, so there is more "motion freedom".

The first joint of a six-axis robot can rotate freely in the horizontal plane like a four-axis robot, and the latter two joints can move in a vertical plane. In addition, the six-axis robot has an "arm" and two "wrist" joints, which give it a similar ability to human arms and wrists.

The more articulation of a six-axis robot means that they can pick up any part of the horizontal orientation and place it in a package at a special angle. They can also perform many operations that can be done by skilled workers.