Investing in industrial robots is an important step for businesses that want to increase production capacity and gain a competitive edge. However, because of the high cost of new robots, many companies turn to used industrial robots.
Introduction
Investing in industrial robots is an important step for businesses that want to increase production capacity and gain a competitive edge. However, because of the high cost of new robots, many companies turn to used industrial robots. A well-chosen used ABB or KUKA robot can deliver results close to the performance of a new system while significantly reducing investment costs.
That said, there are many technical details to watch out for when buying a used robot. Systems bought without sufficient inspection can lead to high maintenance costs, production losses and unexpected failures later on.
Why Do a Robot's Operating Hours Matter?
A robot's age does not always reflect its real condition. What matters is the total operating hours.
For example, a 10-year-old robot may have run for only a few months a year, while another 5-year-old robot may have run non-stop on three shifts.
For this reason, before buying you should always review:
Total operating hours
Servo operating time
Power-on time
Production history
Checking the Mechanical Condition
The robot's mechanical structure should be evaluated in detail.
In particular, check:
Axis backlash
Servo motor performance
Cable packages
Dresspack
Abnormal noises while the robot is moving can signal major costs down the line.
Inspecting the Controller and Electronics
The controller system is as important as the robot's mechanical structure.
The main points to check:
Controller fans
Power supplies
Battery condition
Communication boards
Disk and storage systems
Spare part availability should be researched, especially for older-generation controllers.
Spare Parts Support
Spare part availability must always be researched before buying a robot.
In particular, you need to know the support status for:
Servo motors
Teach pendant
Drive boards
Power modules
Conclusion
When planned correctly, a used robot investment can give businesses a major advantage. However, a technical inspection should be carried out before purchase, the operating history should be investigated and an expert opinion should be sought. This way, investment costs go down while production reliability is maintained.
