Feasibility of usage cobots for support structure removal on metal additive manufactured parts

The feasibility study on the removal of support structures by cobots was started based on previous experience gained at Sirris in a study on polishing to high gloss of mould parts. Software blocks to work with force-controlled movements were reused, and also the approach was applied to not try to automate the entire process, but to divide tasks between robot and human. Part of the relatively simple work might be taken out of the hands of the operator and thus the operator and cobot can be used on their respective strengths. The operator works on the hard-to-reach places where ingenuity and sensitivity are required.