For robots to deliver their promised accuracy, they need to be calibrated easily and reliably. SprutCAM Tech Ltd. last week announced that its Robot Calibration mobile app now supports robot from 14 leading industrial robot manufacturers.
The Robot Calibration mobile app is designed to accurately calibrate the tool center point (TCP) and automatically transfer that data to the SprutCAM X Robot programming software via a smartphone, said the Limassol, Cyprus-based company.
TCP calibration is a process to determine the position of a tool relative to a robot's arm or body, explained SprutCAM. This information is critical to ensuring the accuracy of the robot's movements and the precision of its tool operations.
SprutCAM Tech said it has been developing computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software since 1987. It said its team consists of experts and practitioners in the technologies required to make CNC machine programming easier, faster, and more efficient for its customers.
The company said it has developed toolpath strategies and reliable simulation algorithms. SprutCAM, whose U.S. offices are in Monona, Wis., claimed that it has thousands of satisfied customers worldwide.
Robot Calibration app takes TCP approach
The goal of TCP calibration is to find the exact position of a tool tip, which can then be used as a reference point for a robot's motion-control system. This allows the robot to consistently and accurately perform tasks such as cutting, drilling, and welding in the correct location, said SprutCAM Tech.
The calibration process typically involves measuring the positions of various points on the tool and using these measurements to calculate the position of the TCP. SprutCAM said its app uses the “double-spikes” method for calibration.
The double-spikes method is a TCP calibration method used in robotic and machine tool applications. It consists of measuring two points on a probe and calculating the position of the tool center point based on these measurements.
- Measurement of the position of the long tool. The position of the tool is measured at different joint angles or at different positions along the robot path.
- Measurement of the short tool position and automatic determination of the tool orientation.
- Automatic recognition with OCR and reading of the data by the Robot Calibration application and calculation of TCP coordinates.
- Transmission of TCP coordinates to MachineMaker using a QR code.
TCP calibration can determine the location of the tool center point with respect to the robot's base coordinate system so that it can be accurately positioned for machining or other operations. The double spikes method can be useful in situations where the probe is unable to measure the tool position at the exact TCP, said SprutCAM.
SprutCAM Tech works with more robot brands
SprutCAM Tech noted that the original version of its application worked only with the robots of three well-known manufacturers. The latest version of the company's Robot Calibration app now supports TCP calibration for the following robot brands: FANUC, KUKA, CRP, Denso, Dobot, Estun, Hiwin, Hyundai, Motoman, Newker, Manutec, Nachi, OTC Daihen, and Turin.
SprutCAM added that its Robot Calibration mobile app provides SprutCAM X Robot software users with the following benefits:
- Elimination of errors caused by manual data entry
- Reduced robot debugging time
- No need for expensive calibration tools or services
- Ever-growing list of supported robots and mechanisms
- The engineer interacts with the robot using a standard smartphone
Last month, the company said the Robot Library for its SprutCAM X software supports 675 components from major brands.
SprutCAM Tech's Robot Calibration app is available for free from Google Play and the Apple Store.
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