Robotics in Manufacturing

Application

Sanding

Robotic sanding smooths a surface with an abrasive pad or belt, commonly used on composite parts, wood, and painted surfaces ahead of finishing.

The robot guides an orbital or belt sander across the part in a path designed to avoid visible swirl marks or uneven material removal, adjusting speed at edges and contours.

Force-controlled contact keeps the abrasive pressed evenly against curved or contoured surfaces, since a fixed-position path would lose contact in low spots and over-sand high spots.

Abrasive grit and tool changeover happen often in sanding cells, since a single part may need several grit stages, so quick tool change hardware keeps cycle time down.

Related applications

Common questions

What robots are used for Sanding?
Sanding suits 6-axis industrial, collaborative robots. Examples include FANUC M-20iD/25, Universal Robots UR10e, ABB IRB 2600.
What payload and reach does Sanding need?
Payload is typically 3 to 20 kg with reach around 1200 to 1800 mm.
What matters most for Sanding?
Force-controlled surface contact. Quick abrasive tool changeover. Dust extraction. Surface tracking for contoured parts.

Attribution

Application notes on this page are reviewed for consistency with the site's published robot and process pages.

Edited by Mike Ramsey / Reliable Media.Editorial process