Body robot parts processing, choosing the wrong equipment directly increases the cost by 30%!!!

With the rapid development of embodied intelligence, the demand for embodied robot processing continues to grow. The processing complexity and forming quality requirements of embodied robots for core components are constantly increasing. Many procurement and technical leaders face a core problem when planning processing capacity and choosing outsourcing processing service providers: how to choose three-axis, four axis, and five axis machining centers? What are the differences in the actual use of body robot parts processed by different equipment? What kind of processing equipment should be matched for embodied robot processing? Today, we will start from practical production applications, break down the differences between the three, and provide you with selection references.

Choosing the wrong equipment will result in a 30% increase in processing costs?

Embodied robots are different from traditional industrial robots, as their core components often involve more complex surfaces, multi-directional assembly holes, and integrated structural components, such as torso shells, multi axis joint connectors, and intelligent actuator structures. The structural complexity of these parts is much higher than that of traditional mechanical parts. If the machining center selection is incorrect, it will not only increase the cost of subsequent processes, but may also affect assembly accuracy and service life.

At present, most service providers in the industry that specialize in robot parts processing are equipped with three-axis and four axis processing equipment, but there are not many service providers who have fully equipped their entire range of equipment and can match corresponding processes according to part requirements. Different component structures require matching machining centers with different numbers of axes, and selecting the right equipment can balance quality and cost.

From the perspective of definition and structure, CNC machining centers are divided into three categories based on the number of axes: three-axis, four axis, and five axis. The core difference lies in the number of axes that can be linked and controlled: three-axis machining centers are linked by the X, Y, and Z linear axes, and the tool can only move along the three linear coordinate axes, processing flat and simple hole type parts; A four axis machining center adds a rotating axis on the basis of three axes, usually the A axis (rotating around the X axis) or the B axis (rotating around the Y axis), which can achieve side machining and complete the machining of multiple surfaces in one clamping; The five axis machining center adds two rotation axes on the basis of the three-axis, which can not only achieve multi-faceted machining, but also continuous milling of complex surfaces, suitable for the vast majority of structural types of robot parts.

Three axis, four axis, and five axis, who is more suitable for your parts?

Summarize three core dimensions from the production line to facilitate quick selection based on part requirements:

Looking at the structure of the parts - the three-axis machining center is only suitable for processing flat parts such as base mounting plates and simple connecting plates. All the surfaces that need to be processed face the same direction and do not need to be flipped. If the part needs to be machined with inclined holes or curved surfaces on the side, three-axis machining requires multiple clamping, and each clamping requires re alignment, which is not only inefficient but also prone to cumulative errors. A four axis machining center can achieve the machining of four surfaces in one clamping, suitable for machining joint swing arms and simple shaft parts. Only one rotating axis is needed to complete the machining of each surface, and the machining cost is lower than that of a five axis. The five axis machining center can process any complex structure of parts, such as integrated torso structures, multi degree of freedom joint shells, and complex shaped execution end grippers. These core parts of the robot with spatial surfaces and multi-directional oblique holes can be machined with five axis CNC machining, which can complete all processes in one clamping, eliminating the risk of errors caused by multiple clamping.

Looking at efficiency and cost - from the perspective of single equipment investment, three-axis machining centers have the lowest investment, followed by four axis machining centers, and five axis machining centers have the highest investment in equipment, corresponding to higher machining quotes. But the processing cost cannot only depend on the equipment quotation, but also on the overall process cost: if it is a complex structural part, using three-axis machining requires multiple clamping, customized fixtures, and manual error correction afterwards. Overall, the construction period is longer, and the comprehensive cost is even higher than directly using five axis CNC machining; If it is a simple planar component, using five axes is overestimating and only increasing processing costs. Only by selecting the right equipment can comprehensive costs be controlled in the processing stage.

Checking accuracy consistency - multiple clamping is the core factor affecting accuracy consistency. When processing complex structures, the three-axis needs to be clamped and aligned multiple times, and there will be positioning errors each time. After multiple processes, the errors will be amplified, making it difficult to control the consistency of batch processing. Four axis machining only requires one clamping to complete most structural machining, with much smaller positioning errors than three-axis machining, and better consistency in accuracy of batch parts. Five axis machining can complete the vast majority of processes with just one clamping, ensuring stable accuracy and batch consistency. This is particularly important for embodied robot projects that require large-scale production.

3 selection principles: match equipment according to structure, batch, and schedule

Based on years of experience in machining core components of embodied robots, three practical selection principles have been compiled:

First, let's take a look at the complexity of the structure - simple flat mounting plates, connecting blocks, and three-axis CNC machining centers can meet the requirements with the lowest cost; Need to process 1-2 side shafts and swing arm parts, choose four axis machining to balance cost and effect; Parts with complex spatial surfaces, multi-directional oblique holes, and integrated structures can be directly processed using five axis CNC machining to avoid accuracy issues that may affect the overall assembly of the machine.

Looking at the batch size again - for simple parts produced in small batches, three-axis machining can quickly produce samples with lower costs; The efficiency and cost of four axis machining are more suitable for medium complexity parts in large quantities; The advantage of one-time clamping in five axis CNC machining for large-scale production of core complex parts is reflected, which not only has good accuracy consistency, but also saves labor costs for subsequent assembly and debugging, and improves overall delivery efficiency.

Finally, let's take a look at the schedule requirements - three-axis machining equipment has a high popularity rate, the scheduling is usually more flexible, and the sampling speed is fast; The schedule for four axis machining is relatively moderate, and the machining cycle for medium complexity parts is shorter than that for three axis multiple clamping; Although five axis machining requires high equipment investment, for complex parts, it reduces the turnover time of multiple processes, resulting in a shorter overall construction period.

Why is full device configuration important? Simple parts are not wasted, and complex parts are not stuck

The equipment configuration capability of the service provider directly determines the delivery capability when processing embodied robots. Only by equipping a full range of three-axis, four axis, and five axis machining centers can we cover the full range of requirements from simple parts to complex core parts - simple parts use three-axis cost control, complex parts use five axis CNC machining to ensure accuracy, and medium parts use four axis balancing efficiency.

As a service provider for the entire robot industry chain, Shenzhen Huiwen Zhizao currently has over 370 processing equipment, equipped with a full range of three-axis, four axis, and five axis machining centers, which can meet the processing needs of robot parts with different structures and batches. Huiwen Zhizao is not an ordinary outsourced processing factory, but a professional service provider with integrated design, manufacturing, and assembly capabilities. In addition to the processing stage, it can also provide early mechanical structure optimization and process feasibility analysis to help customers optimize processing technology in the design stage, balance part performance and processing costs.

In terms of quality control, Huiwen Zhizao has passed ISO9001 and IATF16949 quality management system certifications, and is a national high-tech enterprise and specialized and innovative enterprise. The processed parts will go through multiple inspection processes before delivery, with corresponding quality control standards for each link from raw material entry to finished product exit. At present, we have provided services to many technology innovation enterprises and research institutions such as Huawei, Xinsong, Xiaomi Ecological Chain Enterprises, Beijing Institute of Technology, and Chinese Academy of Sciences.

For robot intelligent manufacturing services, in addition to humanoid robots, we can provide comprehensive OEM services for mechanical dogs, flexible robotic arms, bionic robots, medical robots, and more.

Especially for humanoid robots, Huiwen Intelligent Manufacturing innovatively adopts a combination process of "new materials+new molds+precision machining", relying on integrated design, intelligent manufacturing, and assembly full chain services to complete the entire process from research and development to batch delivery in one stop.

summary

For the machining of embodied robots, there is no absolute superiority or inferiority among three-axis, four axis, and five axis machining centers, only the difference in compatibility: three-axis is suitable for simple structures and has the lowest cost; Four axes are suitable for moderate complexity, balancing cost and efficiency; Five axis is suitable for complex structures, with better accuracy and consistency. The core of selection is still based on the structure, batch size, and cost requirements of your own parts. Choosing a professional robot parts processing service provider can help you avoid many pitfalls in the selection of machining centers.

Shenzhen Huiwen Zhizao focuses on the full industry chain services of robot mechanical design, core component manufacturing, and assembly. We can flexibly match processing equipment and processes according to the needs of embodied robot processing, and provide full process support from design optimization to finished product delivery. Welcome to bring drawings for consultation and quotation.