The RCC glossary gathers the technical terms used in industrial robot and machine protection. Each entry gives a short definition and links to the related product or article. This resource is regularly updated by our engineering office.
ATEX
Acronym for Atmosphères Explosibles. The 2014/34/EU directive regulates equipment for areas where flammable gases, vapours or dust may form an explosive atmosphere. An ATEX cover must be antistatic, free from spark-generating parts and supplied with a declaration of conformity.
Engineering office
RCC’s in-house team of engineers responsible for 3D-auditing the robot, selecting the fabrics, drafting the technical drawings and validating the prototype. The engineering office ensures every cover is precisely sized for the robot’s kinematics and its production environment.
Cobot
Collaborative robot designed to work in close proximity to operators. Cobots (Universal Robots, KUKA LBR iiwa, Fanuc CRX, ABB GoFa) require dedicated covers that respect their tactile safety zones and their often more complex kinematics than a classical industrial robot.
Encoder
Position sensor installed on each axis of a robot. Highly sensitive to dust, splashes and vibrations, the encoder is one of the most expensive components to replace. A suitable cover prevents intrusion and extends its service life.
Food contact (approval)
A material’s suitability for direct or indirect contact with foodstuffs without altering them. RCC food-industry covers are made from fabrics approved for food contact and washable with industrial cleaning agents.
Foundry
Industrial sector for melting and casting metals. Foundry protection requires high-temperature fabrics (fibreglass, silicone-coated fabric, etc.) able to withstand molten-metal splashes and thermal radiation.
Industrial robot cover
Custom textile envelope that protects an industrial robot from its production environment. An RCC cover typically combines a body, arm covers, sleeves and bellows for the joints and axes, plus custom metal parts designed to hold the cover in place throughout the robot’s cycle.
ISO 9001
International quality-management standard. RCC was certified to ISO 9001 in the past and retains its methods (documented design, manufacturing and follow-up process with traceability for every order); the company is no longer certified to date.
Preventive maintenance
Scheduled operations (cleaning, inspection, replacement) intended to prevent a failure before it happens. Robot preventive maintenance covers axes, cables, bellows and the protective cover itself.
Corrective maintenance
Action taken after a failure or malfunction. A cover in good condition reduces the frequency of corrective maintenance by limiting the wear suffered by the robot’s sensitive components.
Sleeves, bellows and component covers
Components of a robot protective cover: sleeves, bellows, arm covers, base covers, motor covers. These custom parts cover the joints, axes and motion zones of the robot, and are designed to follow the robot’s dynamics without tearing or hindering motion.
Cleanroom (ISO 14644)
Environment with controlled airborne particle concentration. ISO 14644 defines cleanliness classes. RCC cleanroom covers are made from non-shedding materials, washable using dedicated protocols.
Industrial robot
Multi-axis articulated arm used for automated production tasks. RCC protects the leading brands: Fanuc, ABB, KUKA, Stäubli, Yaskawa/Motoman, Kawasaki, Mitsubishi, Epson, Comau, Universal Robots, Omron, Denso, Nachi, Hyundai and Estun.
Welding robot
Robot dedicated to MIG, MAG, TIG, laser or spot welding. Highly exposed to splashes and heat, it requires an aramid or silicone-coated welding cover to withstand sparks.
Custom (made to measure)
Manufacturing approach where every cover is designed specifically for one robot and its environment, as opposed to off-the-shelf catalogue solutions. RCC custom work relies on a field audit, 3D drawing, validated prototype and series production at our Toul plant.
Technical fabric
Specialised textile for industrial applications: coated polyester, high-temperature aramid, ceramic fibres, silicone, PTFE, antistatic fabrics. Fabric choice is driven by the thermal, chemical and mechanical constraints of the environment.
ATEX zones (1, 2, 21, 22)
Classification of locations with explosive-atmosphere risk under directive 1999/92/EC. Zones 1 and 2 cover gases and vapours (occasional and rare respectively); zones 21 and 22 cover combustible dust. An ATEX cover must be approved for the exact zone of installation.
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