The seminar, which will feature live demonstrations of robot machining, is being organised in association with robot integrator, CNC Robotics.
Robots have the potential to provide a lower-cost alternative to machine tools for the manufacture of larger components – both for the machining of patterns, master models and tooling and for finishing operations such as trimming, deburring and drilling.
The seminar will highlight applications where robots could be used effectively and also illustrate their potential limitations such as lack of accuracy or the limited ability to cut harder materials.
One barrier to the use of robots for machining was the cost and complexity of the software needed to program the toolpaths. Now, the new robot machining interface in Delcam's PowerMILL CAM software has made it simpler to program robots for a wider range of applications. The ability to program the robot offline from 3D CAD data is claimed to be faster and more efficient than the ‘teach and learn' approach that is often used to create instructions for the equipment.
This new programming method makes it easier for manufacturers to take advantage of the potential benefits of using robots: the cost of installing a robot is significantly less than the price of a large machine tool with a similar working envelope. In addition, the flexibility of the robot means that complex operations can be carried out in a single set-up, so cutting production times and reducing the number of fixtures needed.
Delcam
www.delcam.co.uk/robot
