Collaborative Robot Boosts Productivity of Sanding, Grinding, and Finishing Processes

By Mark Shortt, Feb. 6, 2024
Design2Part Magazine

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One of the technologies on display at the WESTEC/AeroDef 2023 trade show in November was a collaborative robot (cobot) shown polishing a propeller blade. Introduced last March by Kane Robotics, the versatile GRIT™ cobot is reported to be the first collaborative robot developed specifically to automate composites sanding and weld grinding processes.

According to Kane Robotics Chief Operating Officer Alan Hiken, the demonstration highlighted the GRIT cobot’s versatility in applying different processes—not just on the propeller blade, but on various parts with similar shapes, such as a windmill blade, a wing, or a turbine on a steam generator.

“It enables us to appeal to folks who have different applications that are not necessarily a propeller blade,” Hiken told Design-2-Part in an interview. “It also enables us to show that you could do a variety of processes with this same piece of equipment.”…

The GRIT Vision System demonstrated its skill in live object detection and adaptive recalibration, allowing Paul Mueller to grind different-sized tank shells and various types of weld seams, said Kane Robotics.

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