Design and analysis of a robotic arm under different loading conditions using FEA simulation

Abstract

Robotic arms have become a crucial part of every industry, ranging applications from welding or assembly of various components to works that involve high precision. To enable small industries to take advantage of robotics and automation, optimization of the design through analysis is very essential. It also reduces the cost of the product and increases the life cycle. This study comprises the design and analysis of a human arm type robotic arm under different loading conditions using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulation. A minimalistic approach has been adopted throughout the design of the robotic arm. In this paper, the Computer-Aided Design (CAD) model of the robotic arm is developed using Creo Parametric software and is exported to Ansys. From the results of this study, it is found out that material properties play a vital role in different loading conditions. Thus, optimization of design is achieved by observing the effect of changing materials, using Ansys Workbench. Finite Element Method (FEM) provides a clear view of design, optimization, failure analysis and helps in saving material, time and cost.