"Off-line programming of robot increases quality and productionPrint this page
Within the Benelux, Valk Welding is an important supplier in the field of industrial robotising. The welding robot installations are from Panasonic and delivered as stand-alone machines up to completely 'custom-made' turn-key projects. The company is an important Panasonic partner in off-line programming of welding robots.
"Although the Panasonic DTPS system (Desk Peak Programming & Simulation) is developed at the producer's in Japan, this is mainly done under the control of Valk Welding. World-wide we are the most important support centre for the implementation of the programme. We also train Panasonic people world-wide (America, Germany) to work with the software".
With DTPS, it is possible to shift programming of the robot from the shop floor to work preparation; meaning that programming is no longer done near the robot with teach-in-programming and a box with buttons, but directly from the design specifications. This is not new, it is even customary in high-tech environments such as the automotive industry. We were one of the first to apply this in fairly low-level in a PC-environment.
Five years ago, we introduced the software at Stork PMT in Boxmeer. With more than 50 users, it has now become an indispensable tool, and for the future we expect to provide this software with more than half of all the robot installations we deliver. Many of our customers apply the off-line programme from a CAD-file. The complexity of CAD/CAM-linking is not only found in the many movements of the robot, but also in the linking with databases containing welding parameters. These databases are being made in the company itself based on know-how and experience, and if desired test welding.
The advantages of the off-line-programming are mostly in the `manipulation' of the programmes. That is also relevant when not working from a CAD-file but in the old-fashioned way from the shop floor. The advantage is that you can run the same perfect welding programme on more welding stations, resulting in the same optimal welding results on all stations.
The newest development is complete parametric programming. This is important for serial products that are to be welded in a comparable way but with other dimensions. A simple example is a table; once the parametric welding programme is determined, simply entering the length and width of the table is sufficient to have the robot deliver optimal work. But things go even further, also for very complex products with lots of important welding parameters. With an extensive parameter table thousands of variants of the same product can be made. Parametric programming is the only reasonable way for the welding process automation for specific small series.
(Source: Metaal & Kunststof - August 2001)