Reach Alpha 5 - Manipulator Maintenance; General Manipulator Care

Reach Alpha Integration Manual | V006
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7. Press and hold the Stow button, and ensure the arm stows completely. Release the button to stop the
movement. Repeat for the Deploy button.
8. Whilst moving the arm, press and hold the Pause button, and ensure that the arm stops responding while
the button is held down. Releasing the button will engage movement again.
This completes the Acceptance Test for the Alpha and Master Arm.
8. Manipulator maintenance
Preventative maintenance is strongly recommended to keep your manipulator functioning as intended and to avoid
unscheduled downtime and expensive repairs. Follow the steps in this section to prolong the life of your
manipulator.
It is also recommended to conduct a regular Acceptance Test (Section 8.2) to check all joints for abnormal
behaviour.
8.1. General manipulator care
Reach Robotics manipulators are intended for use in water or air. Other fluids may have an adverse effect on the
materials used in their production.
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.
• After immersion in water with high suspended sediment, or if the manipulator has come into prolonged
contact with the seafloor, ensure all debris is removed from the manipulator, focusing particularly on joint
closures and jaws to preserve sealing surfaces.
• Do not use harsh chemicals to clean any Reach Robotics manipulators.
Connector care
• Keep connectors covered with provided bulkhead protectors at all times when not in use.
• Regularly check connector pins for signs of damage or corrosion.
• Ensure female connectors are free of debris – flush with compressed air if necessary.
• Apply silicon grease to both male and female connectors prior to every mating – ensure female connector
sockets are greased to 1/10-1/3 of socket depth.
Cable care
• Avoid exceeding the bend radii given in Section 6.
• 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 end-effector of the manipulator.