An industrial robot base can be moved, but the moving structure must match the application. There are clear limits.
1. Common movable base structures
1.1 Wheeled movable base
Simple base with braked casters
Used mostly for small collaborative robots. It can be moved manually or by motor. During operation, pneumatic or mechanical locking fixes the base. It suits small-batch flexible trial production lines.
AGV integrated movable base
Uses differential wheels, Mecanum wheels, and other omnidirectional moving structures. It supports autonomous navigation. With an industrial robot, it is used for multi-station material transfer and flexible sorting. Common in auto parts and 3C electronics assembly lines.
1.2 Rail-mounted movable base
This is the robot seventh axis. A linear guide works with a servo drive system to move the robot along a fixed track. It can cover multiple independent stations. It is mostly used in automotive welding and construction machinery part grinding for batch production.
2. Main limits of a movable base
2.1 Load and accuracy
Rated load capacity of the movable base must be greater than the sum of robot weight and end-effector payload. Repeat positioning accuracy after movement is usually much lower than a fixed base. A fixed base can reach within ±0.02 mm. A movable base is generally ≥±0.5 mm. It cannot meet the needs of precision CNC machining or high-precision optical assembly.
2.2 Safety guarding
The movement area must have safety fences and anti-collision photoelectric sensors. During operation, a locking device must fix the base to prevent displacement and accidents. Some applications also need an emergency stop linkage system.
2.3 Power and communication
A movable base needs a power solution such as a conductor rail or lithium battery pack, plus a wireless communication module. This avoids cable drag interfering with movement.
If a mounting flange, rail slide, or locking mechanism for a movable base needs to be made to drawing, we can machine it in single pieces or small batches. Hansheng Automation works to drawing dimensions and assembly clearances.
3. Application boundaries
Suitable: multi-station flexible lines, reconfigurable temporary production cells, and applications that combine material handling with end-effector work.
Not suitable: ultra-high precision machining, static precision assembly, and heavy-duty fixed operations.
Our precision parts machining service is not limited to industrial robot bases. Hansheng Automation can machine custom parts from drawings for medical device parts, food packaging machinery parts, textile machinery parts, and hydraulic equipment parts. We also cover yacht precision fittings, RC car structural parts, and filling machinery parts. Single pieces and small batches are both available, with attention to material, tolerance, surface finish, and assembly fit.
