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Sebastien
Posts: 219 Handy
Offline programming UR |
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/ Most recent by Albert
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Anyone tried offline programming a UR using a software like RobotMaster or Octopuz.
We used this in the past for Fanuc robots so wondering if anyone tried it out for UR and what applications you did?
We used this in the past for Fanuc robots so wondering if anyone tried it out for UR and what applications you did?
Thanks for the update. I did work with such a software in the past for a robot milling/machining cell. These softwares are quite expensive so you really need to justify the cost if this in your project. In the past I used this software on a robot milling cell. It was a Fanuc robot that would mill 3D parts. So highly complex trajectories and a lot of points. Basically impossible, do to without the software. However, since I don't think UR is accurate enough for robot milling and with the path recording software developed by Robotiq, I was wondering what kind of UR applications could justify using such a software!
Could you tell me what application do you want to do with a UR and offline tool? What price is acceptable for you? How about 199$/Year?
I think price will be totally dependent on what the features of the software is. Obviously, as a start-up price is always a concern and most of the systems that I looked at last year were just too far out of range for now (>$10k per seat) even though the features they had would be great to have
This is nice. Any chance you can have the alpha version of the software available for something like a 30 days trial? As @matthewd92 the main thing right now for us as well is to offline program the UR by adding CAD models of the robotic cell to the software, this would allow us to create entire program and simply touch up on a few points when we get to the real cell. If you can't share a trial license maybe a quick video would be nice.
@Simon I have heard about Artiminds and thought it was only made for programming tricky applications like deburing, assembly and force insertion. Am I mistaking? Do you have some genera videos presenting the software or trial versions?
Also, @Shao , I like the $/month way. I considered Solidworks in the first place but do to cost we are now working with OnShape! A great software!
@Sebastien
Fair point - our focus is definitely solving tricky things easily with a robot - hardware independent and without expert knowledge. Especially force- or vision adaptive robot control is what we are passionate about. This makes our software currently shine especially for all kinds of assembly involving flexible materials / imprecisions - e.g. a recent example by Essert from cabling .
But our software provides as well offline programming functions (path-planning, collision avoidance, cycle-time estimation, CAD support), which we have extended recently. Key difference to the other tools is the more attractive pricing, focus on the robot cell only (not an entire automation line) and support of UR, Denso & Kuka robots only. As we are extending features our documentation & marketing material lags a bit behind, a short impression can be found here .
We're happy to give anyone interested in our software a personal online introduction (TeamViewer, Skype or Skype Business) - just drop us an email to [email protected] and propose a timeslot (ca 1h) convenient for you a couple of days in advance. And for sure there is a 30 days trial version available - please check our website to register for that: http://www.artiminds.com/software_demo.html
this is really nice. I love the Essert video example! Will get in touch with you shortly for a live demo for sure!
I recommend you to try RoboDK:
www.robodk.com/download
You will have a 30-day trial. What are you using your UR robots for? I can help you prepare a simulation. You can use RoboDK for many offline programming applications. I invite you to to read the full description from UR's website:
http://www.universal-robots.com/plus/product/Simulation-and-Offline-Programming-with-RoboDK-22627/
Among other things, you can run programs directly from the computer. If you provide me with your email address I'll send you a manual to use UR robots with RoboDK.
If you have any questions I'll be happy to help.
Albert
[email protected]
Universal Robots+ currently features two offline programming suites; Artiminds RPS and RoboDK.
Besides from that, I believe Robotmaster supports UR5 and UR10 and Energid's Actin software also can do offline programming.
If you are going to use an OLP simulator you may need to calibrate your robot for absolute accuracy. Robots have great repeatability but very poor absolute accuracy (position errors of up to 7mm are common), so poor that no manufacturer gives absolute accuracy figures.
In an OLP you will be programming in absolute coordinates so, depending on your accuracy requirements (eg a low-end CNC job) you will need to calibrate the robot(s) the program will run on.
Programs developed in the OLP will run on any calibrated robot (compared to taught programs that are only accurate on the robot they were taught on).
RoboDK, probably the least expensive OLP on the market, has an excellent calibration tool that can use Creaform's latest high-precision optical tracker to calibrate any make of robot on the shop floor without needing to return the robot to its manufacturer for calibration (which anyway only a few manufacturers offer). And RoboDK can output that program to almost any make of robot so your program can be multi-robot and cross-platform.
Creaform, a close neighbour to Robotiq in Quebec, is now offering robot calibration as a service or product. We also offer a high precision robot-mounted 3D scanner. If you need more information feel free to email me at [email protected]
Peter Warburton, Creaform
OCTOPUZ software does have full support for UR robots with the UR3, UR5, and UR10 models available in our library of robots. Offline programming for UR has become very popular for us in path-oriented applications such as dispensing, polishing, spraying and more. You can find a sample video of a dispensing application using OCTOPUZ here:
If you have any questions about our capabilities or would like to discuss any of your current processes feel free to contact us at [email protected]
I was wondering what are the typical way that you see customer use to replicate simulated trajectories to real trajectories with the robot? Just so that you have there is a correct match between the simulation and the real cell. I know vision is an option but what else?
Using a Work Coordinate System (user frame) is often accurate enough to replicate simulated trajectories with the robot, but this does depend on application. We have had users use vision, touch sensing, or a laser to locate the part as well as using a laser tracker for updating the robot path live as it is running. We have used force feedback before, but this is commonly used to maintain a surface or edge finish, not used for accuracy adjustment.
For UR robot support we currently create SCRIPT files, however after numerous requests, we are also in the process of adding more in-depth integration with the controller. Feel free to contact us at [email protected] and we can discuss this further and walk through a live demonstration of OCTOPUZ.
I had tried 3 time download RoboDK 64 bits online. it downloaded successfully and installed to my computer. But after run program, I will be crashed ( disappeared) when I try to open file or create new project. I am running on Windows 10 64 bits.
You can try running these two alternative versions and let me know if the issue still persists:
C:/RoboDK/bin/RoboDK-GL2.exe
C:/RoboDK/Viewer/RoboDK.exe
Alternatively, the new version of RoboDK (v3.0) will probably work better:
http://www.robodk.com/downloads/future/Install-RoboDK-64.exe
Please let me know if it does not fix the issue.
Albert
[email protected]