IRBCAM v32.7 - CAD/CAM for ABB Robots Revision History: January 5, 2010: New features for generating more compressed RAPID code, see the new section 5.2 in the manual. October 25, 2009: Added new command-line options which make it possible to use IRBCAM directly as a post-processor in the CAM software. A trained user can set up all the required configurations (user frame, object frame, tool definitions, etc). An untrained operator can then generate working RAPID code for the ABB robot directly from the CAM software, without the need to open the GUI for IRBCAM or RobotStudio. December 7, 2008: The new path configurator is now also available in the stand-alone version of IRBCAM. Reachability and path configuration for four new robot types added: IRB6400PE-2.25, IRB6400-2.40-M94, IRB6400-2.80-M94 and IRB6400-3.00-M94. November 17, 2008: New and improved path configurator for RobotStudio Add-In. The new configurator is more than 50 times faster than the previous version. October 04, 2008: IRBCAM now supports 5-axis G-codes (DIN 66025). From this version IRBCAM also supports helix toolpaths which are circular moves with a constant velocity in the tool direction. The RobotStudio video to the left shows a common spiral entry to a round pocket. When the spiral gets down to Z-5.00 in the video it then completes true circular moves with increasing radius. Both the helix and the true circular moves are converted to the MoveC command of the ABB RAPID language. Another new feature is acceptance of command-line parameters, which allow a tighter integration with the CAM software since IRBCAM can be called directly as a post-processor from within the CAM software. New robot added to the reachability checking: the IRB6660-3.1. June 20, 2008: New functions for splitting and merging large ROB files. These functions allow for checking very large milling files with RobotStudio for collisions, reachability, etc. May 12, 2008: IRBCAM adapted to version 5.10 of RobotStudio as well as improved reachability checking inside IRBCAM. September 20, 2007: New ABB robot models added to the reachability checking: the IRB6620 and the IRB6640. July 13, 2007: New optimizer function. This feature simplifies the task of finding good values for the following parameters: tool roll angle, linear track offset and user frame x,y,z coordinates. The IRBCAM software now searches for good parameter settings such that the robot can reach all the targets in the APT files. IRBCAM has also been tested and works on the Vista operating system. IRBCAM now supports G-codes and a new feature for converting G-codes to the APT format has been implemented. June 24, 2007: New linear track batch mode feature to minimse movements in the track. The track is kept stationary as much as possible to reduce the effects of backlash. Only when the robot can not reach targets will the track move. June 14, 2007: IRBCAM Add-In v1.2. New feature for automatic path configuration. The path configuration helps the user to find the correct robot configuration for each target (for example elbow-up/down or bending backwards/forwards). A RAPID export feature from RobotStudio has also been included in the Add-In. The export feature allows the user to modify individual RobTargets, automatically calculate the configurations and generate ready-to-run RAPID code. May 21, 2007: Build 32.3. Improved motion generation for external linear track. Minor user-interface upgrades. February 1, 2007: Build 32.2. New features: Support for DellCam APT-CL file format. New support for full circles in APT-CL, in addition to arc segments. November 21, 2006: Build 32.1. New features: Automatic tool change and spindle speeds programmed directly from APT-CL files. New RAPID code export options. October 23, 2006: Build 32.0. Major upgrade of the graphical user interface (GUI) plus new feature for displaying statistics about the robot coordinates, such as number of MoveL vs MoveC, contact vs no-contact points, and distribution of distances between the coordinates. See the Screenshot and the Demonstration movie. October 18, 2006: Build 31.4. New feature: Tool roll angle, see the main manual, section 5. CAM toolpaths contain at most 5-axis information. The tool roll angle allows the user to influence the 6th degree of freedom for ABB robots. October 13, 2006: Build 31.3. New major feature released including IRBCAM Add-In v1.1. Coordination of motions between robot mounted on a linear track and a rotary axis holding the part. The user can decide on the level of motion for each of the robot, the track and the rotary table. For example, the milling tool and the robot can be kept almost stationary, while the rotary table does the work. There are now virtually no limits on the dimensions of the parts which can be machined by a robotic milling system. For more details, see the last sections of the training course manual and the RobotStudio simulation October 9, 2006: Build 31.2: New feature for avoiding backlash problems with linear tracks. The operator can make the linear track move only in one direction. Kinematic models for additional robots added to the reachability testing: IRB6650-3.0, IRB6650-3.20, IRB6650-3.50 and IRB6650-3.90. APT-CL format tests completed for: SurfCAM, CATIA v5, ProEngineer, VisualMill. September 25, 2006: Build 31.1: New Add-In for RobotStudio v5.07. All the powerful functions for checking reachability, collision detection and path configuration are now available to users of IRBCAM. See Screenshot by clicking on this link. June 27, 2006: Build 31.0. IRBCAM migrated to .Net 2.0. New FTP client. May 26, 2006: Build 30.3. Added feature to restart a job at user-specified coordinate. APT-CL reader more robust. IRBCAM now compatible with a larger group of CAM packages. May 9, 2006: Build 30.2. Minor corrections for code running on IRC5 controller. May 6, 2006: Build 30.1. Corrected 'Show Tool' feature in 2D plots. Added parameters for tool weight and centre of mass. April 23, 2006: IRBCAM v2006b, Build 30.0, released. New features 2D/3D path plot and path verification. March 20, 2006: IRBCAM v2006b, Build 29.0, released. February 24, 2006: IRBCAM now supports construction views in SurfCam. Other new features are support for both metric/imperial units, removal of lines/arcs shorter than 0.02mm and conversion of arcs that are almost straight lines. February 6, 2006: Reachability and singularity testing now implemented for the following ABB robots: IRB140, IRB1400, IRB1600, IRB1600L, IRB2400, IRB2400L, IRB4400, IRB4400L10, IRB4400L30, IRB6400R-2.5, IRB6400R-2.8, IRB6400R-3.0, IRB6600-2.5, IRB6600-2.8, IRB6650-2.75, IRB7600-2.3, IRB7600-2.55, IRB7600-2.8 and IRB7600-3.5. January 17, 2006: IRBCAM v2006a is released. Back to main page.