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CAD/CAM for Robots

Currently ABB, KUKA, COMAU, MOTOMAN and FANUC Supported


Four Reasons to Choose IRBCAM:

Price: IRBCAM costs less than similar competing products. Universities and teaching institutions receive a 90% discount (teaching material available on request).
Ease of use: IRBCAM has an intuitive and user-friendly 3D interface. Even complex robotic systems including external axes can be configured with ease. IRBCAM is currently used as a robotic teaching tool at several universities.
Flexibility: IRBCAM is not limited to a particular manufacturer of robots or CAD/CAM software. Currently ABB, Kuka, COMAU, MOTOMAN and FANUC robots are supported, and others can be added on demand. IRBCAM supports a large variety of CAD/CAM software. You do not have to switch to a new CAD/CAM software when purchasing IRBCAM. IRBCAM has been tested and works with SurfCAM, CATIA, ProEngineer, VisualMill, PowerMill, SolidWorks/SolidCam and others. Send us an example APT-CL or G-code file if you want us to test IRBCAM's compatibility with other CAD/CAM software.
Offline Programming: IRBCAM can also be used as a stand-alone offline programming tool. Robot programs can be created and verified in 3D without using G-code or APT-CL toolpaths from CAD/CAM software.


Info News:
Jan 20, 2012: Stationary tool milling available in version 2012-A1.
• Demo of 8 axis machining using IRBCAM v2011A.
• Automatic tool re-orientation to extend workspace.
• Some screenshots from the new version are available here.
• IRBCAM works with the older S4/S4C controllers and
   IRB6400 M94/M97 robots, see this offer at eBay.

info2 Some Example Videos:
Milling with an IRB2400 and a rotary table (Perth, Australia)
Milling of a statue with IRB6400 robot and rotary table, no 1.
The same example simulated with IRBCAM
Milling of a statue, no 2.
Milling of a statue, no 3.
IRBCAM v2011-A5 and a Kuka KR16-2.

info2 Current Features:
• IRBCAM contains a graphical and intuitive user interface
• An optimizer reduces the need to modify individual coordinates
• The fully configured toolpaths are safe (no ConfL\Off)
            
• IRBCAM contains 3D graphics, verification and tool animation
• On ABB robots, IRBCAM lets you drip-feed points directly from the controller disk which allows for non-interrupted milling of very large jobs.
• IRBCAM supports coordinated motions of linear tracks and rotary tables
• IRBCAM contains reachability and singularity testing, including external axes
• Easy user interface for choosing robot configuration (Bending Backwards, Elbow Up/Down, Wrist Up/Down).
• Options for: Gun on/off (suitable for laser, plasma and waterjet cutting)
• Supports automatic tool-change and spindle RPM speed
• Multiple-language support: English, French, German, Portuguese, Hungarian, Norwegian and Swedish
• IRBCAM works with the following controllers: ABB (S4,S4C,S4C+,IRC5), KUKA KRC, COMAU C3G/C4G, MOTOMAN NX100/DX100 and FANUC RJ3/RJ4
• Machining from all sides (construction views) with only one coordinate frame calibration on the robot
• In addition to the GUI, IRBCAM can be seamlessly integrated into CAM software as a post-processor
• Functions for editing, adding and deleting robot positions.
• Automatic placement of transition points between Construction Views.
• Scaling of APT coordinates in X,Y,Z directions.
• Support for CAD files on VRML and STL formats (robot tools and user objects).
• Roller Mode for 6-axis toolpaths, see this YouTube video demonstrating a Kuka-KR30-3 robot.
• Support for actuated tables, see this YouTube video demonstrating an IRB6400-2.8 M97 robot.


   
Left: KUKA-KR1000-TITAN with Rotary Table. Right: COMAU SMART-NM-25-2.2 and 3-Axis Milling.


   
Left: MOTOMAN-SSF2000 with machining spindle and fixed table, 5-axis milling. Right: FANUC R-1000iA-80F with rotary axis.

Information about the software: IRBCAM converts the APT-CL or ISO G-code formats to the ABB robot language RAPID, the KUKA KRL language, the COMAU PDL2 language, the MOTOMAN Inform III language or the FANUC Karel language. IRBCAM supports the ABB controllers S4, S4C, S4C+ and IRC5 as well as KUKA KRC, COMAU C3G/C4G, MOTOMAN NX100/DX100 controllers and FANUC RJ3/RJ4 controllers. IRBCAM opens up powerful CAD/CAM capabilities to users of ABB, KUKA, COMAU, MOTOMAN and FANUC robots.

Typical accuracies that can be achieved with a well-calibrated robot is 0.3mm-1.0mm, a repeatability of 0.1-0.2mm and a workspace volume with radius up to 3.9 metres. (Calibration is important. If not properly calibrated, the robot will have position errors of several millimetres). 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 works together with any CAM software that can export to the APT-CL format and can be seamlessly integrated as a post-processor into other CAM packages. In this way, when the system has initially been set up, the user does not have to switch between many different software packages.

IRBCAM is delivered with a system module which, when installed on the (ABB) controller, allows for non-interrupted milling of very large jobs, only limited by the size of the robot controller's internal disk. 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.

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.