Robots score at grinding and polishing

Abstract

The benefits and advantages that robots bring to the grinding and polishing of complex and awkward shaped components is reviewed. They are illustrated with examples from industries as varied as automotive and medical engineering. In the first of these, laminated glass windows for armed vehicles are ground on their periphery with a robot‐manipulated grinding tool with high productivity and low part damage. In another, the technology to grind water tap bodies developed in Sweden is transferred to a South Korean company to improve output and quality. Finally, in the grinding of artificial knee joints, robots are shown to deliver the necessary levels of accuracy and surface finish as well as the production rates for one orthopaedic implant manufacturer.