Modular robotic arm for automation of SMME industrial press

Abstract

Small South African manufacturing companies, endeavouring to benefit from Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies, specifically automation, are restricted by exorbitant costs and the lack of know-how associated with automation. This project aims to develop affordable modular automation blocks that can couple with each other, using the OpenStructures grid, to provide customisable degrees of freedom tailored for specific automation applications. The cost of development is recovered, and the cost of maintenance is reduced through the reuse of these blocks over different automation applications. A key measure of effectiveness is a standardised mechanical and electrical interface for each block.