Work envelope

How it is used

Used when planning a cell layout and safety distances. Also called the working range or workspace. Engineers check that all points are inside the work envelope and restrict it with software zones or mechanical stops.

Example sentences

1. The second pallet station is at the edge of the work envelope, so the robot reaches it only at an awkward angle.

2. We limited the work envelope in software so the arm can never swing toward the walkway.

Common collocations

• robot work envelope
• inside the work envelope
• limit the work envelope
• working range

Related terms

• reachThe maximum distance a robot arm can extend from the center of its base, usually given in millimeters to the wrist. It sets how large an area the robot can work in.
• coordinate frameA set of X, Y and Z axes with a fixed origin, used to describe positions and orientations. Robots use several frames, such as world, base, tool and user frames.
• guardingPhysical barriers such as fences, covers and doors that keep people out of the dangerous area of a machine or robot cell while it is running.
• singularityA robot pose in which two or more axes line up, so the arm loses a degree of freedom and some joints would have to turn extremely fast to follow a straight path.
• robot cellA closed working area with one or more robots and the equipment around them, such as fixtures, conveyors and safety guarding, that performs a task as one unit.

More terms: Motion and Kinematics

• degrees of freedom
• axis
• tool center point
• repeatability
• accuracy
• kinematics
• trajectory
• inverse kinematics