Robot Arm Basics

Robot Arm

The Universal Robots robot arm is composed of tubes and joints. The coordinated motion of these tubes and joints, via PolyScope X software, moves the robot arm.

  • Base: where the robot arm is mounted.
  • Shoulder and Elbow: where the larger movements originate.
  • Wrist 1 and Wrist 2: where the finer movements originate.
  • Wrist 3: where the tool attaches to the tool flange.

You can attach a tool to the flange at the end of Wrist 3. Moving the robot arm positions the tool.

You cannot position the tool directly above, or directly below the Base.
Teach Pendant

The Teach Pendant, the touch screen that controls the robot, is optimised for use in industrial environments. Unlike consumer electronics, the Teach Pendant touch screen sensitivity is, by design, more resistant to environmental factors such as:

  • Water droplets and/or machine coolant droplets

  • Radio wave emissions

  • other conducted noise from the operating environment

The touch sensitivity is designed to avoid false selections on the interface, and to prevent unexpected motion of the robot.
Using the screen

For best results, use the tip of your finger to make a selection on the screen.

In this manual, this is referred to as a "tap".

A commercially available stylus may be used to make selections on the screen if desired.