Stamina enhancement: Drilling Performance

Courtesy of Equipois

The x-Ar exoskeletal arm from Equipois supports the arms of workers performing fine metalworking tasks, such as manual drilling, and enables them to exert less effort.

“Hello boss, I won’t be able to come in today because I injured my left arm at work yesterday,” reports your top metal finisher. Performing fine metalworking and other manipulation tasks using outstretched arms for long periods of time causes worker fatigue, discomfort and possible injury, according to Eric W. Golden, president and CEO of Equipois Inc. Those tasks include manual drilling, grinding, engraving, part gaging, assembly, probing and soldering.

To overcome those problems, the company developed the x-Ar exoskeletal arm that attaches to a worker’s forearm and supports the arm through its range of motion or holds it steady in place. “Activities where people have to work with their arms outstretched are very tough on the shoulder,” Golden said. “Over the course of months and years, it’s pretty common for people to have to undergo surgery or at least take time off. Our goal is to eliminate those sorts of problems for the worker.”

He added that the device, which has a weight support capacity of about 14 lbs., enables workers to exert less effort, effectively increasing their stamina and strength. “If you don’t get tired when you work, it means you can be a lot more effective and precise,” Golden said. “You can work faster for longer without putting your body at risk.”

The device’s cuff that an arm slides into is covered in a soft material similar to the cast material hospitals use. The cuff can be exchanged for different workers, Golden noted. Two cuff sizes are available. “The two sizes cover a wide range, all the way from a very petite woman to a very large man,” he said.

Because the spring-driven device is mechanical, it doesn’t require a power source or any computer technology. “We help humans rather than replace them with something that’s automated,” Golden explained. “One of the underpinnings of our philosophy is that there is no better tool than the human brain powering human fingers. For a lot of tasks, if you try to intervene by putting a motor or computer in between those two, you won’t be doing as good a job as a human would do.”

The moving parts of the x-Ar arms, which weigh about 5 lbs., attach to a chair, bench, table or mobile stand and shadow a worker’s actions, according to Golden. “It should almost be invisible to the user.”

Golden noted that he expects x-Ar’s price to be from $2,000 to $3,000, depending on the quantity and complexity of the mounting scheme.

For more information about Equipois Inc., Los Angeles, call (866) 601-2070 or visit www.equipoisinc.com.