Placing a six-axis robot on a linear track greatly expands its reach envelope, allowing it to tend more than one machine or transfer materials across a much greater distance. For example, instead of three robots each tending a machine at separate locations, a single robot on a linear track—also known as a seventh axis—could potentially tend all three, saving money and increasing efficiency. Or, a single material handling robot on a rail could replace multiple robots with intermediate handoff locations.
The overall cycle time of a robotic cell is defined as the time it takes to produce a single unit. There are many factors that affect the cycle time of a cell.