Regular maintenance of your manipulator is incredibly important. Follow these steps to extend the lifespan of your Reach Robotics product.
Servicing
Subsea electric manipulators contain several drivetrain mechanisms which require servicing to preserve their performance and value. Since they also use dynamic seals, these will wear out faster than static seals, and their lifetime will depend on how often the manipulator is used, in what conditions (temperature, pH, etc.) it is used, and how well it is maintained.
Like cars, if servicing is ignored, wear and tear can lead to unexpected field failures, downtime, and more expensive repairs.
Check out our What does a service include? article for more information on when to service and what to expect.
Cleaning
- Manipulators should be cleaned thoroughly after every deployment, dry or wet.
- After immersion in salt water, wash manipulators in fresh water to prevent salt deposits and corrosion.
- Remove all debris from the manipulator, focusing on joint closures and jaws to preserve sealing surfaces.
- Do not use harsh chemicals to clean any Reach Robotics manipulators.
- Do not use metal wire brushes to clean any Reach Robotics manipulators.
Connector care
- Keep connectors covered with always-provided bulkhead protectors when they are not in use.
- Regularly check connector pins for signs of damage or corrosion.
- Ensure female connectors are debris-free – flush with compressed air if necessary.
- Apply silicon grease to male and female connectors before every mating – ensure female connector sockets are greased to 1/10-1/3 of socket depth.
Cable care
- Avoid exceeding the bend radii.
- When de-mating connectors, pull the connector rather than the cable to remove it.
- Consider strain relief methods if using externally powered tools at the manipulator's end-effector.
Other considerations
- Avoid using ball-end Allen key sets, which can lead to rounded bolts that are difficult to remove.
- Keep the firmware up-to-date to take advantage of bug fixes and performance improvements.
- Reach Robotics manipulators are intended for use in air or water. Avoid deploying in other fluids as these may harm the materials used in the manipulator production.