As you know many manufacturing companies rely on the use of automation and robotics to do tedious jobs that require accuracy and repetition.   With that in mind, The Pine-Richland Engineering and Technology Department is teaching students how to program a robotic arm, which is widely used in manufacturing companies all over the world.

The robot was introduced in the fourth quarter of the 2015-2016 school year as part of the Project Lead the Way Computer Integrated Manufacturing class.

The robotic arm was purchased for $12,500 through a grant from the Gene Haas Foundation.

PRHS Technology Teacher Evan Clark says students have been using virtual simulation software to learn how a jointed arm robot works, but had no way of programming “the real thing,” but now can thanks to the grant.

 “Having an industrial jointed arm robot at Pine-Richland enables students to physically program a robot and equips students in the field of high tech manufacturing and automation,” said Mr. Clark.

Students in the Computer Integrated Manufacturing class were able to use a fully functioning robot arm to brew a cup of coffee via a Keurig Single Coffee Serving Systems.  After the arm was completed, students made a YouTube video of the arm brewing a K-cup. See video below.

The “Universal Robotic” series is currently the leading name in robotics manufacturing in many prominent companies.  UR series robots are the safest industrial robot on the market today. They have sensors built into the motors that will stop if they experience resistance. If the robot makes contact with an object or a human, the robot will stop until started again.