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Offline Robot Programming (OLP) is catching more and more traction in manufacturing facilities as one of the downsides of robots is the time it can take to program complex parts via teach pendent. Offline Robot Programming takes the programming “offline” – away from the teach pendent / robot cell – allowing the user to generate the robotic code from their computer and upload it to the robot. Learn more about OLP by reading About Offline Programming for robots.
Capital investments in advanced manufacturing environments require careful consideration, especially if that investment is for a new process or technology. If you are looking at investing in OLP here are some things to consider about the potential return on investment (ROI).
The OLP software being considered should be a simple, straightforward, hassle-free user experience. Your OLP application should not require advanced degrees in computer programming or robotics to operate it. Neither should it be a robot software emulator that just mimics a traditional pendant interface.
When approaching the ROI discussion, easy-to-use software will get used more readily. Beginners become power users quickly, allowing minimal disruption, quick ramp-up, and better programming outcomes. This translates to lower cost per use and lower total cost of ownership.
Intuitive OLP should provide the power to fully exploit the capabilities of your robot cell. A benefit of OLP is that program validation can be done offline and from any location resulting in a reduction of robot downtime and travel time for the supporting staff. An easier-to-use OLP allows a programmer to quickly determine if there is an issue with the program and provides intuitive tools to solve them.
Most robot manufacturers create software specific to their brand. However, these are proprietary and may be inflexible and may not have all the software tools of a leading OLP software application. As well, proprietary software is seldom compatible across multiple brands, and it can be difficult to find upgrades and support for older robots.
OLP that is compatible with multiple robot environments and can be installed and implemented quickly, reduces your costs. If you have robots from different manufacturers, you can use the same OLP software for all of them. Maintaining multiple OEM software solutions consumes resources; it can require multiple staff users and more training and time in updates for each platform. In a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment, this can save hours/days of production downtime. Quite simply, employees gravitate and adopt new technology more readily when the OLP software solution can be used across various brands and is easy to use and learn.
An advantage of OLP is that a digital model of the robot cell can be built, validated, and perfected before the robot is installed. OLP software can simulate the robot installation and operations virtually before the actual installation.
Troubleshooting can be done virtually without shutting down the production line and issues can be resolved before installation, making the time between installation and operation much shorter. The robot can be installed, programmed, tested, your staff trained, and the robot up and running in a fraction of the time because program optimization was completed prior to installation.
Programming on a teach pendant can be laborious and time consuming. Complex paths can require hundreds, if not thousands, of points that can take days to program manually. The same job can be accomplished by a good OLP in hours or minutes. A good OLP solution has pre-defined process parameters and is able to rapidly identify issues and opportunities to optimize the programming path and robot trajectory. Error-free complex programs can be quickly generated with little robotic knowledge and without point-by-point intervention.
In a high-mix, low-volume environment, changing a robot to perform a different task can lead to a great deal of downtime. OLP allows the robot to shift from one function to another, seamlessly. The next job can be programmed and waiting while the existing job finishes: a couple of keystrokes and the robot moves to the next task.
As an example, changing the orientation of an end-of-arm tool is straightforward with OLP since it can be accomplished with a recompute command. If you need to change the angle of a welding tool to improve the seam, it can be accomplished quickly and easily.
One advantage of a robust OLP platform is the ability to use existing robots in different ways that can expand your operation. For example, a robot that deburrs an automotive water pump can then be deployed to deburr an aerospace turbine blade without shutting down the production line.
Robots that are utilized more broadly due to a robust, easy to use OLP can result in greater machine utilization and profits.