Originally Posted by
StrawberryBoi
Yes, bolting is the method of choice for connecting robot sections across almost all designs. They require regular-ish maintenance and are also frequently upgraded. Bolting provides reliable pre-load against mating features as well as nearly infinite disassembly.
I will caveat that knowledge with that my experience is with medium to small, medical, and specialty robots. I also currently work at a robotics company that is also funded by two large robotics companies. All products across these companies are fully bolt assembled, mostly at joints.
As I've mentioned before though, when precision is required (and these robots are generally only precise in the sense of motion, not absolute mechanical geometry), the industries will build a full rigid assembly with bolts and other methods and then final machine the end to end interfaces in a single op to achieve the tolerance. Specific part stackup is thus not as critical. Even in those cases a bolted assembly can be then unbolted and rebuilt, so long as all fits are true locating OR you re-machine the interfaces post re-assembly.