Traditional industrial robots mostly rely on position mode motion control for grinding and polishing tasks, executing point-to-point movements along pre-programmed trajectories. However, workpieces suffer from manufacturing errors and clamping deviations. If controlled purely by position feedback, the grinding force fluctuates significantly, leading to over-grinding, insufficient material removal, inconsistent surface finishes and low product yield. As an end-effector flexible unit for robotic arms, the FCS Force Control Unit (Force Control Flange) adopts closed-loop force control technology to deliver constant force output, effectively solving common pain points in robotic grinding and polishing industries.
The FCS force control system is mounted at the end of the robotic arm and directly connected to the grinding tooling. During operation, the controller forms a closed loop to dynamically adjust the pressure exerted by the tooling on the workpiece surface and achieve real-time constant-force tracking, rather than relying solely on robot trajectory positioning. This series includes multiple models: FCS‑115, FCS‑135, FCS‑215, FCS‑235, FCS‑335 and FCS‑350. The maximum output force ranges from 100N to 400N, with strokes of 15mm, 35mm and 50mm for selection according to grinding processes and workpiece materials. It supports multiple industrial communication protocols including EtherCat, Profinet and Profibus. With a DC24V input voltage and IP65 protection rating, it adapts to harsh workshop environments.
The FCS Force Control Unit delivers remarkable advantages in practical grinding and polishing applications. It supports 360° constant force output and high-speed dynamic tracking, overcoming slow response and coordinate dead-zone limitations of conventional robots. Constant pressure throughout the grinding process guarantees consistent surface quality and improves processing efficiency. Its position control accuracy reaches 0.1mm, balancing positioning precision and flexible force control. It is suitable both for large-area polishing and precision grinding at narrow local points.
Equipped with an intuitive touch panel, the system is simple to operate. Operators can set key parameters such as output force and tool weight directly on the interface. Automatic gravity compensation offsets pressure errors caused by the weight of the grinding tool. With flexible contact mode, the unit adapts to tiny undulations on workpiece surfaces and maintains optimal grinding conditions, reducing workpiece rejection rates and lowering abrasive tool wear.
Conventional position-controlled robots struggle to balance precision and flexibility. By installing the FCS Force Control Unit, regular robots gain force sensing capability without modification to the robot body. Widely applied in casting grinding, hardware polishing, weld seam cleaning and other processes, it serves as an efficient automation upgrade solution for grinding and polishing.