Robots - software/hardware

[kkominiarek]

other than to load/unload parts what application do you use your robots for?

 

i am most interested in multi axis machining.

can you tool change?

can you rough or only finish? (not hp to rough?)

what tolerance can you hold?

what size parts?

rotary or trunnion table?

 

do you use robotmaster or other software?

 

thanks in advance for any insight you can give me.

[ERIC14779]

see www.RobotMaster.com

 

 

and http://www.kmtgroup.com/opencms/en_ZZ/ba_r.../routing/FT-502

[gcode]

welding

[ERIC14779]

The robotrim 100 that we have is only a 1.5Hp spindle with a 15 taper spindle.

 

It it by no means capable of cutting metal at all. Renshape and such at most.

 

I would supose if you had a big enough robot you could cut metal... But remember it is like holding a spindle in your hand and tring to cut something at arms length.... Not very rigid at all compared to a VMC

[YoDoug®]

We have a couple of Seiko D-Tran robots. We use them in our test lab for odd product testing and development. A lot of mechanical failure testing applications. Things like flip a spinning reel bail open/closed until it breaks. Not quite machining, but another use of robots.

[shoe guy]

We use ABB in forging.

[Jacob Featherstone]

We use a 6-axis Motoman robot to waterjet cut. The programming is done via Mastercam and we have the Robotmaster plugin to aid in posting and simulate toolpaths. As far as Robotmaster is concerned, we could not achieve the production that we do without it.

 

We have a drill tool station that the robot can pickup and use, and with the correct attachments you could have many tools, depending on rigidity and design.

 

Our Robot isn't nearly rigid or accurate enough to machine metal, but there are other robots out there that work with robotmaster. For our purposes, holding the waterjet paser, the robot works great.

 

I would suggest contacting Robotmaster about your application to see if they can help you.

[Tyler Robertson]

Hey Jake, glad to see you

 

I believe Ken was speaking with someone already from Robotmaster, but if he or anyone else has any questions here I'd be happy to discuss them in this thread.

[kkominiarek]

yes i have spoken with greg culp....robotmaster seems to be very strong at programming robots.

 

i'm still very interested in what is being machined (material removal related) out in the real world.

 

if we can't hold the tolerance we require with robots then purchasing robotmaster won't be needed.

 

we will be machining graphite. the parts i envision machining with the robot will have tolerances...+/-.002 to +/-.004

 

is this achievable?

[Tyler Robertson]

I know there are calibration methods available from robot integrators that can get down around the +/- .004 range, but I would speak with them to see what they can quote you. Off the cuff I've seen some marketed at +/- 0.010, whereas the robot may actually be performing better. It's also going to matter what kind of feedrates you're wanting to achieve

[kkominiarek]

anyone using a parallel link robot?

[kkominiarek]

anyone?

[Bruce Kanzelmeyer]

We use a KMT Robotrim 1000 to trim thermoformed plastic parts, sizes up to 60" x 36" x 18". Our Fanuc robot has a 3hp spindle (I believe larger spindles are available, but with stouter robot), programmable up to 40,000 RPM with 6 tool changer. Its on a large turntable so 1 part/parts are cutting while loading another--we are using vacuum hold down fixturing, which is nicely integrated into the system. RobotMaster interfaces beautifully with Mastercam with good programming tools and simulation--even pretty accurately simulating joint moves.

[kkominiarek]

i went to kmt site...it doesn't look like they do what i require.

 

i contacted them...i'll see what they have to say.

 

thanks for the info bruce.

[Bruce Kanzelmeyer]

Ken, it seems to me that the accuracy you are looking for is possible on robots and is essentially determined by the number of points (density) and the feedrate you use. Robots are notorious for rounding. We haven't done much surfacing yet, but KMT robots have parameter settings coordinated with Robotmaster that allows it to handle very large files with a drip feed method that allows the controller to swap files in and out seamlessly--the batch files are generated automatically by Robotmaster. Push KMT (old RPT) a little for information, as this is pretty new technology for them. I believe that Chuck Abrams at their Auburn Hills facility can give you information and may be able to oversee a little test for you.

[kkominiarek]

bruce, i e-mailed kmt, bill signorelli is the person i initially will be talking to.

 

i'll mention all the info you provided.