PROTECTING ROBOTIC EQUIPMENT IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS

Robotics are widely used in industrial environments with harsh operating conditions, such as steel mills, aluminum smelters, foundries, refineries, and petrochemical plants. However, without proper protection from the hazards of these conditions, tens of thousands of dollars that have been invested in robotic equipment can be lost in an instant. To remain effective, robotics must weather extreme conditions without corroding or degrading, and be resistant to dust, chemicals, moisture, and temperature extremes.  Robot covers, robot protective covers and robot protective systems have been used to prevent component failure, allow robots to operate in a larger range of conditions, and extend the operational life of the robots. However many of the fabrics traditionally used have a high level of flexural failure, and low resistance to heat and abrasion.

THERMOPAK® Robot Arm Cover fabricated from ARMATEX® SBN 13-602 Robotex. This Arm Cover is part of a complete set manufactured for use in a Primary Aluminum Smelter.

Mid-Mountain has developed ARMATEX^® SBN 13-602 ROBOTEX, a high-performance fabric developed to protect robots from chemicals, sparks, molten splash, and pollutants, thus reducing the downtime required for maintenance and failure, and increasing the life of the robot.

ARMATEX^® SBN 13-602 ROBOTEX is a very high strength, aromatic polyamide woven fabric that is coated with a highly specialized and high-performance silicone elastomer. ARMATEX^® SBN 13-602 ROBOTEX has exceptional strength and incredibly high flexural failure resistance, as well as high chemical and thermal stability. ARMATEX^® SBN 13-602 ROBOTEX is used to manufacture THERMOPAK^® Robot Protective Covers for a wide variety of robots.

FEATURES

• Better strength (tensile and tear) after thermal exposure than typical robot protective fabrics
• Very flexible – flexibility virtually unaffected by temperature
• Excellent high/low-temperature performance capability
• Excellent resistance to a wide range of fluids and chemicals
• High thermal conductivity
• Easy to fabricate/process
• Excellent ozone and UV resistance
• Excellent electrical insulating properties
• Excellent weatherability
• Maximum value

THERMOPAK^® Robot Covers and Robot Protective Systems are innovative, durable covers that benefit robots working in a range of dangerous or industrial environments, and in applications where a flexible, high strength, high-temperature fabric is required. Additionally, THERMOPAK^® covers manufactured from our ARMATEX^® SBN 13-602 coated fabric may be beneficial in nuclear settings, aeronautics, automotive industry, machining, painting, foundry work, surface treatment, and food industries.

Mid-Mountain Materials, Inc. has anticipated the technological improvements that will drive robotics and automated components into a range of industries. Given the up-front cost for robotics is high, it is imperative for corporations to preserve their investment with protective robotics clothing.