MES Outlines Manufacturing Shift for Humanoid Robot Production

MES Inc. said in a press release that robotics companies should plan the transition from billet machining to die casting, forging and extrusion before humanoid robot production reaches high volumes. The company says prototype manufacturing methods are not suitable for production measured in tens or hundreds of thousands of units.

Humanoid robots contain structural frames, joint housings, motor enclosures and battery housings that are often machined from billet during pilot production. For volume manufacturing, these parts require new designs for casting or forging, followed by precision CNC machining on critical interfaces.

MES identified porosity control, thin wall designs, tolerance accumulation, tooling lead times and material selection as key constraints. It also said manufacturers need qualified suppliers and foundry capacity in place before production schedules require the parts.