Which activities are typical in preventive maintenance for an industrial robot?

Which activities are typical in preventive maintenance for an industrial robot?

• A. Reprogram the control software for every task, remove all guarding, and repaint the robot.
• B. Only replace sensors when they fail, ignore lubrication.
• C. Increase payload to test structural limits.
• D. Inspect and replace belts, lubricants, drive motors, sensors, cables, alignment checks, guarding, and calibrations.

Answer: (D)

Preventive maintenance is about proactively addressing wear and tear before failures happen, keeping the robot safe and reliable. Regularly inspecting and replacing wear items and critical components — belts, lubricants, drive motors, sensors, cables, along with alignment checks, guarding integrity, and periodic calibrations — helps maintain accuracy, reduce unexpected downtime, and extend the robot’s life. The other options go beyond maintenance: reprogramming software for every task, removing guarding, and repainting are not standard preventive tasks and can compromise safety; replacing sensors only after failure and neglecting lubrication is reactive and neglects essential upkeep; and testing structural limits by increasing payload is not maintenance and risks damage.

Preventive maintenance is about proactively addressing wear and tear before failures happen, keeping the robot safe and reliable. Regularly inspecting and replacing wear items and critical components — belts, lubricants, drive motors, sensors, cables, along with alignment checks, guarding integrity, and periodic calibrations — helps maintain accuracy, reduce unexpected downtime, and extend the robot’s life. The other options go beyond maintenance: reprogramming software for every task, removing guarding, and repainting are not standard preventive tasks and can compromise safety; replacing sensors only after failure and neglecting lubrication is reactive and neglects essential upkeep; and testing structural limits by increasing payload is not maintenance and risks damage.