Auf Deutsch Robotic Milling - CAD/CAM for ABB Robots News: • We have an IRB6400 robot for sale. • Next training course in Norway, June 10-12, 2008. • IRBCAM in release notes of RobotStudio 5.08, June 11 2007 • IRBCAM demoed at Auto Africa 2006, Oct 26-Nov 5, 2006     See the Photo and IRBCAM path generation. • IRBCAM at Vienna Tech Fair, Oct 2006, see Photo • National Manufacturing Week, Sydney, May 30 - June 2     IRBCAM demoed on an IRB1600 at stand 1703/AIEE. • Revision History: Latest version 32.4, May 12, 2008. • IRBCAM featured on Manufacturingtalk and MCADCafe. Current Features: • Conversion of CAM files to a format readable by ABB robots • More than 3 million coordinate points possible in one setup • Coordinated motions of linear tracks and rotary tables • Reachability and singularity testing, including external axes • Collision detection between spindle and work object • 2D and 3D robot path plotting, verification and tool animation • Two-way transfer to RobotStudio using IRBCAM Add-In    • Machining from all sides (construction views) with only one coordinate frame calibration on the robot • Compatible with SurfCAM, CATIA, ProEngineer, VisualMill, PowerMill and others. Supports APT and G-codes. • New: Automatic optimizer for tool angle, linear track offset and user coordinate frame Our Services: We not only sell the IRBCAM software, but can also assist customers with training on-site, selection of machining spindles, design and manufacture of adapter between spindle and robot, design and manufacture of external axis equipment and other application-specific requirements. Send us an email if you want our comments about your application. We also work closely together with ABB in many countries for customer support and training. Information about the software: IRBCAM converts the APT-CL or ISO G-code formats to the ABB robot language RAPID and supports the robot controllers S4C+ and IRC5. IRBCAM opens up powerful CAD/CAM capabilities to users of ABB IRB-type robots. IRBCAM has been tested mainly with SurfCam, but will work on any CAM software that can export to the APT-CL format. More than 3 million coordinate points can be executed by the robot, which allows for non-interrupted milling of very large jobs. IRBCAM supports 3- and 5-axis machining operations and is suited for rapid prototyping, cutting, milling, grinding, surface finishing or mould production of wood, foam and ceramic materials and light metals (aluminium). In addition to traditional machining, the IRBCAM software can also be used for waterjet, plasma and laser cutting, glueing, as well as painting. Typical accuracies that can be achieved with an ABB IRB-type robot is 0.3mm, a repeatability of 0.1mm and a workspace volume with radius up to 3.9 metres. IRBCAM supports external axes, which can extend the workspace even further (typical linear tracks are 5 to 10 metres). A rotary external axis enables an object to be machined from all sides in one setup. The most flexible setup is a robot mounted on a linear track plus a rotary table holding the part. Very large objects can be machined this way, for example moulds and plugs for marine applications, wing structures for aerospace or windmill blades. IRBCAM supports construction views (or construction planes). This means that an object can be machined from all sides with only one coordinate frame calibration on the robot. Only one calibration means that errors introduced when recalibrating are eliminated. For the propeller example in the Pictures section, a worst-case accuracy of 0.3mm was achieved when machining from two sides (top and bottom views) using an IRB1600 robot.   With RobotStudio the user can simulate the entire milling job offline on a PC with the real ABB controller software. The user can completely eliminate collisions, out of reach (axis limits) and singularity problems before moving on to the real robot. A problem in the middle of a job often requires that you start from the beginning again, meaning that you throw material away. Collisions may require recalibration of both tool and work object coordinate frames. When sorting problems out with RobotStudio, the job will be machined correctly by the robot on first attempt. IRBCAM contains it's own fast reachability and singularity verification at the programmed points to quickly sort out the main problems. RobotStudio completes the verification by checking also the interpolated path between the programmed points. With the new Add-In for RobotStudio, the new feature MultiMove from ABB can for the first time be used on CAD/CAM toolpaths. RobotStudio can also be used to modify the IRBCAM toolpaths, for example rotate the orientation of individual coordinates to avoid collisions with the part. When the user is satisfied with the toolpath, the IRBCAM Add-In can be used to export the path back to IRBCAM to upload the path and run the milling job on the IRC5 controller. In this way, the original information in the APT-CL file is preserved, for example automatic tool change and cutting vs. non-contact speeds. Alternatively, the operator can use features in RobotStudio, such as RobotStudio Online, to upload the toolpaths to the IRC5 controller. New features in v1.2 of the Add-In include automatic path configuration and RAPID program export directly from RobotStudio. IRBCAM contains an FTP client which enables conversion and uploading of the APT-CL format to the S4C+ or IRC5 robot controllers in a few seconds. IRBCAM supports multiple coordinate systems and cutting tool definitions, which lets the user increase productivity by machining one part while setting up fixtures for a second part. For further information, see the User's Manual below or contact us directly by email. Downloads: (Right-Click and Save Target As... in your Web Browser) Manuals: IRBCAM v2006b User's Manual, Updated July 13, 2007 (PDF, 5.0Mb) IRBCAM Add-In for RobotStudio v5.07 and 5.08, Updated August 18, 2007 (PDF, 0.27Mb) Training Course SurfCAM, IRBCAM and RobotStudio v5, Updated October 14, 2006 (PDF, 1.4Mb) Video recordings: (Requires Windows Media Player 9 or higher) IRB6400 with ELTE TMA4 Spindle and Vacuum Table (1.8Mb) IRB6400 with ELTE TMA4 Spindle Milling Foam in Norway (6.1Mb) IRB6650, Linear Track IRBP6003 7.7m, ABB Brazil (9.5Mb) IRB6600, Milling Aluminium at Burley Engineering, Brisbane (0.9Mb) IRB1600, National Manufacturing Week, Sydney, May 2006 - Part A - Propeller, 5-Axis (22.1Mb) IRB1600, National Manufacturing Week, Sydney, May 2006 - Part B - Human Head, 5-Axis (15.9Mb) IRB1400 Combined 3- and 5-Axis Machining, "Dish" Shape (5.5Mb) IRB1400 3-Axis Machining of Propeller Shape, Construction View Rotated 30 degrees (6.7 Mb) IRB1400 5-Axis Machining of Propeller Shape (5.4 Mb) RobotStudio Simulations: Demonstration of coordinated track and rotary table motion using the IRBCAM Add-In for RobotStudio v5.07, (0.6Mb) Same as above, but with a spindle with more complex geometry. (0.8Mb) Video demonstrating IRBCAM version 32.0 (1.0Mb) Demonstration of the IRBCAM Add-In for RobotStudio v5.07, Part 1 (1.3Mb) Demonstration of the IRBCAM Add-In for RobotStudio v5.07, Part 2 (1.2Mb) Dynamic external axis table motions and an IRB6650 (RobotStudio and IRBCAM Add-In), Part 1 (0.9Mb) Dynamic external axis table motions and an IRB6650 (RobotStudio and IRBCAM Add-In), Part 2 (1.3Mb) RobotStudio and IRBCAM Add-In demo for propeller part using an IRB1600-1.45 (2.1Mb)