Design and Fabrication of Flexible Three Link Manipulator for Pick and Place Application

Flexibility plays a key role in robot based applications, where the ability to perform complex tasks in semi structured or even unstructured environments is strategic. Most industrial robot operates inside a security fence which separates them from human workers, but not all. Flexibility, lightness in relation to the mass to be displaced and energy efficiency are acquiring increasing significance in automation. We can achieve higher performance in robots by optimizing the parameters like high-speed operation, lower energy consumption, lighter weight and safer operation. In this paper a pick and place robot is designed and developed to achieve effective automation with higher safety and with greater ease. The main objectives of designing this flexible manipulator are to reduce its mass and to minimize its vibrations in the end-effector, which enhances good accuracy in positioning. This can be achieved by bringing down the number of working components and jointswhich reduce various losses. The greater mass can be transferred from one place to another place with relatively lesser mass of flexible three link manipulator. The various problems were encountered and rectified during the design and fabrication of flexible three link manipulator for pick and place application.