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www.us-tech.com
Partnering May, 2018
Wearable Exoskeletons Reduce Worker Fatigue
By Nicole Lang, Product Manager — iglide®, igus®, Inc.
ing companies boost productivity, re- duce fatigue and downtime, and im- prove quality and precision. The Air- frame® includes engineered plastic components from German manufac- turer igus that contribute signifi- cantly to the apparatus’ reduced weight. The igus iglide components provide durability and self-lubricat- ing features that eliminate the need for maintenance. The Airframe exoskeleton, de-
A
signed by Levitate Technologies in San Diego, supports the upper ex- tremities of professionals and skilled trade workers who are exposed to repetitive arm injuries and station- ary arm elevation. The product was invented by engineer Mark Doyle in
new wearable and lightweight exoskeleton can help employ- ees at electronics manufactur-
2013. He worked with Pathway, a de- sign company, to enhance the ex- oskeleton’s manufacturability. It is produced by D&K Engineering.
Distributed Weight The Airframe transfers the
weight of the arms from the shoul- ders, neck and upper back to the core through pads that rest on the outside of the hips, relieving muscle and joint strain. By transferring upper ex- tremity load, the device helps to sus- tain high-quality performance, pro- tect health and improve overall work conditions. The unit is worn similarly to a
backpack and can be adjusted to al- most any body size with the ad- justable frame and straps. The Air- frame has been reported to lower ex- ertion levels by up to 80 percent and
work well for employees who do over- head work installing components. Work-related musculoskeletal
disorders (WMSDs) from stress and fatigue are rising across a variety of industries, costing employers more than $50 billion annually in disabili- ty and health care costs, as well as lost productivity. In 2011, diagnoses of musculoskeletal disorders among workers accounted for nearly 34 per- cent of newly disabled workers. In 1961, just over eight percent of newly disabled workers were related to musculoskeletal disorders. By 2011, that percentage jumped to 34 percent —a clear indication of an aging work- force and growing musculoskeletal challenges. “The difference between the
Airframe and other exoskeletons on the market is that it is very lightweight and extremely com- fortable,’’ says Doyle. “We worked hard to make motion smooth and natural when using the product.”
Reliable Plastic Components Engineered plastic bushings
For all your workbench needs.
manufactured by igus are critical components in the Airframe that keep it light and durable. The ex- oskeleton contains 32 bushings that are blended homogeneously and include a base polymer, rein- forcing fibers or filaments, and dry lubricants. The bearings are self-lubricating, dampen vibra- tion, offer excellent wear, can be paired with different shafts, and re- sist corrosion and chemicals. Doyle had used the igus bush-
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ings in previous applications and knew the bushings would be the per- fect choice for his exoskeleton. “Mak- ing the Airframe maintenance-free and lightweight were always key goals,’’ says Doyle. “The igus prod- ucts are self-lubricating, resist corro- sion and are easy to install.” “Asking human beings to wear a
metallic frame and do their jobs is not an easy task,’’ adds Joseph Za- waideh, VP of marketing and busi- ness development at Levitate. “We needed something that was light- weight, low-profile and could adjust to all the different mechanisms and synchronizations. It required atten- tion to detail on every screw and every bolt. Our mindset was if you do not need it, do not add it.” The Airframe includes multiple
Electric Adjust Packaging Benches
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iglide G300 bearings, which are among igus’ most popular products. The bushing is used frequently in agricultural machines, automotive, construction, sports and leisure, ma- chine building, and mechatronics. The iglide G300 has a PV value of
12,000, a tensile strength of 30,460 at 68°F (20°C) and a density of 1.46 g/cm3 (0.84 oz/in.3). All of igus’ prod- ucts go through extensive testing to ensure durability. Three other iglide bearings were used in the Airframe, the T500, M250 and Z, and all have different capabilities. All the bear- ings are self-lubricating and resist dirt and dust. A variety of industries have
found that the Airframe boosts pro- ductivity in manufacturing plants. Zawaideh says an automobile manu- facturer in South Carolina is current- ly using 66 exoskeletons at its facili- ty, and feedback from the users has been overwhelmingly positive. Ac-
Lightweight, wearable exoskeleton.
cording to testing conducted by Levi- tate in painting and welding, effi- ciency and quality improved signifi- cantly. For shifts during which
painters wore the Airframe, the amount they were able to paint in- creased by 53 percent before their muscles became fatigued. Productivi- ty by welders, as measured in the number of successful welds over a pe- riod of nearly three hours, increased by 86 percent with workers wearing the exoskeleton. The unit is flexible and scalable
to individuals of any size, slips on and off easily and moves seamlessly with the wearer without limiting dexterity or intruding in the work- space. The mechanical support sys- tem progressively activates as the arm is raised and gradually releases as the arm is lowered to provide the right level of support at each point in the movement. “We are getting fol- low-up orders, which is the best feed- back the industry can give us,’’ con-
cludes Doyle. Contact: igus, Inc., P.O. Box
14349, East Providence, RI 02914 % 800-521-2747 Web:
www.igus.com r
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