Case Study:Maintenance of commercial cleaning robots

  Cleaning robots navigate diverse environments such as homes, shopping malls, and offices, seemingly lightweight yet burdened with heavy cleaning tasks. Don't underestimate their size; internally, they comprise a highly integrated mechatronic system. To maintain stable performance over extended periods, lubrication management is crucial. From the drive module to the sensing unit, each moving part has its own specific lubrication requirements; neglecting this can easily lead to malfunctions or performance degradation.

  Whether for post-maintenance care or as a manufacturer, selecting or recommending appropriate maintenance and lubrication is essential.

  As the driving core, common POM/PA engineering thermoplastic gears are highly sensitive to tribo-acoustic properties. Using inappropriate lubricants can lead to gear wear and increased operating noise. In such cases, silicone-based or lithium complex greases should be used to provide a stable viscosity index, good low-temperature fluidity, and effectively reduce dynamic noise in the gear system.

  Cleaning robots frequently operate in damp, wet, or dusty environments, requiring their bearings to possess water washout resistance and lubrication film stability. Using high-performance greases based on fluoropolymers (such as PTFE-thickened grease) provides excellent hydrolytic stability, preventing emulsification failure and extending bearing life.

  For example, the rotating mirror assembly and miniature bearings of the LYDAX lidar module are extremely sensitive to cleanliness and friction torque. High-purity, low-volatility specialized lubricants must be used to prevent the generation of volatile substances or particles that could affect optical components, leading to signal interference or reduced positioning accuracy. Furthermore, linear motion components such as guide rails and sliders require lubricants with a low coefficient of friction and dust resistance to ensure that the robot maintains accurate obstacle avoidance and positioning performance in complex environments.

  This table outlines lubrication solutions for key components of cleaning robots (such as robotic vacuum cleaners), including 11 parts such as the main drive motor, bearings, radar module, and seals. Each part lists the material configuration (e.g., POM/PA gears, ABS/PC end caps), main operating conditions (e.g., medium to high speed, humid environment, high temperature and dust), and recommended lubricant type (e.g., PAO synthetic grease, water-resistant grease, damping grease), aiming to provide efficient, durable, and low-noise lubrication guidance.

  List of common lubrication points for cleaning robots：