Bringing Precision and Consistency to Surface Finishing with Robots
Sanding and polishing are essential finishing steps that improve surface quality, remove imperfections, and ensure part uniformity. Traditionally performed by hand, these processes are physically demanding and prone to variability, often resulting in uneven finishes, inconsistent quality, and extended cycle times. Collaborative robots (cobots) and other robotic solutions address these challenges by automating this repetitive, high-precision work. Programmed to follow precise motion paths, robotic arms deliver repeatable results, reduce operator fatigue, and enhance throughput.
Precision Force/Torque Feedback: Enhancing Robotic Performance with 6 DoF Sensors
Accurate force and torque measurement is essential for ensuring consistent product quality. Excessive force can slow the rotating end effector, increase surface defects, and reduce throughput. Conversely, insufficient force leads to poor surface contact and low material removal rates. Integrating 6 DoF sensors into the control loop allows the robot to maintain optimal pressure throughout the operation, resulting in repeatable and uniform finishes. Tool wear is another critical parameter to be monitored. Uneven force distribution can cause certain areas of abrasive tooling to wear prematurely—especially when dealing with contoured or complex surfaces.
Enabling High-Performance Sanding and Polishing with FUTEK’s QMA154
Accurate and reliable force/torque feedback is essential for consistent surface finish, tool longevity, and process repeatability. FUTEK’s QMA154 6 DoF digital sensor is built with these needs in mind. The sensor combines mechanical robustness with high-fidelity data acquisition to outperform conventional sensors in demanding sanding and polishing applications.
Key features and benefits of FUTEK's digital QMA154 sensor:
- 6-axis force and torque measurement: Measures up to 500 N in Fx/Fy, 1000 N in Fz, and 35 Nm in Mx/My/Mz enabling precise multi-directional control. This allows robotic arms to maintain ideal contact pressure, adjust to surface irregularities, and ensure consistent material removal.
- Digital SPI/USB-C output: Enables direct communication with modern robotic controllers—eliminating the need for signal converters. This simplifies system integration and supports tighter, more responsive force/torque control loops.
- Achieve up to 4800 samples per second: Supports high-speed feedback loops for real-time corrective action of applied forces and torques. This allows quick response to surface defects and improves process repeatability through proper tool positioning during operation.
- Compact and lightweight design: With a footprint of just 62 mm in diameter and under 400 grams, the QMA154 integrates seamlessly into most robot end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) assemblies. Its minimal mass also helps preserve arm dexterity which is critical for increasing cycle efficiency.
- Safe overload protection: Capable of withstanding up to 2000 N in Fx/Fy, 4000 N in Fz, and 100 Nm of torque in order to safeguard against unexpected or accidental collision events.
- Built-in LED fault detection: Monitors for temperature compliance and open or short circuit failures. This allows operators to diagnose issues quickly and reduce downtime during high-throughput sanding and polishing.
- Superior measurement accuracy of 0.25% Rated Output (R.O.): Enables detection of subtle force/torque variations. This high accuracy allows precise characterization of small changes in force distribution across the abrasive surface. As a result, the robot can fine-tune its applied pressure to maintain uniform tool wear, therefore extending abrasive lifetime.
Custom-Engineered 6 DoF Sensors for Specialized Robotic Applications
FUTEK’s QMA154 sensor can be modified or fully re-engineered to address integration challenges such as non-standard mounting geometries, specific communication protocols, or high-performance environments that demand enhanced durability, temperature stability, or overload protection.
Every custom solution is engineered with a strong emphasis on risk mitigation, cost reduction, and meeting critical project timelines, ensuring your project stays on track without compromising performance. Whether you need a minor adaptation or a full engineer-to-order solution, FUTEK provides the custom sensing hardware that robotic arm manufacturers and tooling developers trust when precision, durability, and system integration matter most.
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Bringing Precision and Consistency to Surface Finishing with Robots
Sanding and polishing are essential finishing steps that improve surface quality, remove imperfections, and ensure part uniformity. Traditionally performed by hand, these processes are physically demanding and prone to variability, often resulting in uneven finishes, inconsistent quality, and extended cycle times. Collaborative robots (cobots) and other robotic solutions address these challenges by automating this repetitive, high-precision work. Programmed to follow precise motion paths, robotic arms deliver repeatable results, reduce operator fatigue, and enhance throughput.
Precision Force/Torque Feedback: Enhancing Robotic Performance with 6 DoF Sensors
Accurate force and torque measurement is essential for ensuring consistent product quality. Excessive force can slow the rotating end effector, increase surface defects, and reduce throughput. Conversely, insufficient force leads to poor surface contact and low material removal rates. Integrating 6 DoF sensors into the control loop allows the robot to maintain optimal pressure throughout the operation, resulting in repeatable and uniform finishes. Tool wear is another critical parameter to be monitored. Uneven force distribution can cause certain areas of abrasive tooling to wear prematurely—especially when dealing with contoured or complex surfaces.
Enabling High-Performance Sanding and Polishing with FUTEK’s QMA154
Accurate and reliable force/torque feedback is essential for consistent surface finish, tool longevity, and process repeatability. FUTEK’s QMA154 6 DoF digital sensor is built with these needs in mind. The sensor combines mechanical robustness with high-fidelity data acquisition to outperform conventional sensors in demanding sanding and polishing applications.
Key features and benefits of FUTEK's digital QMA154 sensor:
- 6-axis force and torque measurement: Measures up to 500 N in Fx/Fy, 1000 N in Fz, and 35 Nm in Mx/My/Mz enabling precise multi-directional control. This allows robotic arms to maintain ideal contact pressure, adjust to surface irregularities, and ensure consistent material removal.
- Digital SPI/USB-C output: Enables direct communication with modern robotic controllers—eliminating the need for signal converters. This simplifies system integration and supports tighter, more responsive force/torque control loops.
- Achieve up to 4800 samples per second: Supports high-speed feedback loops for real-time corrective action of applied forces and torques. This allows quick response to surface defects and improves process repeatability through proper tool positioning during operation.
- Compact and lightweight design: With a footprint of just 62 mm in diameter and under 400 grams, the QMA154 integrates seamlessly into most robot end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) assemblies. Its minimal mass also helps preserve arm dexterity which is critical for increasing cycle efficiency.
- Safe overload protection: Capable of withstanding up to 2000 N in Fx/Fy, 4000 N in Fz, and 100 Nm of torque in order to safeguard against unexpected or accidental collision events.
- Built-in LED fault detection: Monitors for temperature compliance and open or short circuit failures. This allows operators to diagnose issues quickly and reduce downtime during high-throughput sanding and polishing.
- Superior measurement accuracy of 0.25% Rated Output (R.O.): Enables detection of subtle force/torque variations. This high accuracy allows precise characterization of small changes in force distribution across the abrasive surface. As a result, the robot can fine-tune its applied pressure to maintain uniform tool wear, therefore extending abrasive lifetime.
Custom-Engineered 6 DoF Sensors for Specialized Robotic Applications
FUTEK’s QMA154 sensor can be modified or fully re-engineered to address integration challenges such as non-standard mounting geometries, specific communication protocols, or high-performance environments that demand enhanced durability, temperature stability, or overload protection.
Every custom solution is engineered with a strong emphasis on risk mitigation, cost reduction, and meeting critical project timelines, ensuring your project stays on track without compromising performance. Whether you need a minor adaptation or a full engineer-to-order solution, FUTEK provides the custom sensing hardware that robotic arm manufacturers and tooling developers trust when precision, durability, and system integration matter most.
