Robotics Prototyping: Joints & Link Arms
Backlash and runout decide how a robot joint feels, long before the torque curve does.
Discuss your partWhat we build for robotics & automation
Send a drawing and a target quantity. We will come back with material, process and a realistic date, or tell you what we would change first.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Typical parts | Robot joint housings · Harmonic drive flanges · Link arms and brackets · End-effector plates |
| Common materials | Al 6061 · Al 7075 · SS 316L · POM · PEEK |
| Achievable tolerance | ±0.02 mm concentricity available, ±0.05 mm typical |
| Typical lead time | 5–10 working days |
| Industry requirements | ISO 9001 quality systems at partner factories · Material certification per lot · CMM inspection report on request · NDA and single-part confidentiality |
What actually goes wrong in robotics & automation
These are the three problems that decide whether a robotics & automation prototype succeeds or gets scrapped on arrival.
Bore concentricity against a mating face
A joint housing has to hold a bearing bore that is concentric to the output face. That is a single-setup machining requirement, and it is the single most common reason a robot prototype feels loose.
Runout on a flange
A harmonic drive flange that runs out will transmit vibration into the gearbox. The flange flat and the bore need to be machined in one setup.
Light weight with stiffness
A link arm needs to be stiff without being heavy, and that usually means pocketed webs rather than solid material — which changes the tool path and the deflection behaviour.
Our approach on robotics & automation parts
- 01 We machine the bore and the mating face in a single setup wherever the drawing allows it, and we say so in the quote so the value is visible.
- 02 We check the drawing for through-bore and face-parallel relationships, and flag any that will not hold as specified.
- 03 For a first functional article we will advise which features actually need tight tolerance, so the budget goes to the right place.
The numbers that matter
Related pages
Where a prototype stops short
A prototype answers geometry and fit. It does not qualify a product, and we will not pretend otherwise. These are the questions that need a test programme.
- Gearbox service life, which is a supplier question
- Fatigue life of the joint under cyclic load
- Tolerance stack after assembly — the prototype is bench-fit, not fitted