Hello! Thank You all for suggestions!
Just for clarification - i am NOT going to use the robot that is shown in the video. I provided the link just to show an example of the solution that i have in my mind. The situation is that i have waterjet cutting machine, which is getting upgraded from 2 axis to 5 axis capabilities and switched from DOS based controls to EMC. Now i am in the process of analysis - should i expand my technical capabilities, add some mill or lathe to my workshop and how can i set these machines to work on parts in large quantities automatically (that particular order involved producing ~10 different kind of parts with total quantity of 7800). I am the single employee of my company, so that is why i am looking for automated solution. I agree on necessity to optimise the code and use proper tools, which also can save a lot of time, but now i would like to understand the best way, how can i save time on activities, when part is not turned and processed - when it has to be inserted in the chuck and then removed. So currently i am not involved in any negotiations with any of my existing or potential clients, because i already rejected the order due to insufficient tehnical capabilities (outsourcing would mean exceeding target cost level), i am just analysing business perspective. The robotic arm in the video costs 21 000 EUR. I believe that i can make it cheaper, so that is why i have EMC in mind as a controlling software also for the robotic arm. The arm itself is not intended to be very high tech solution. I think that for lathe it could be even like an additional frame, construction similar to router so that the part holder (the place, where usually is spindle for router) can reach lathe's spindle and go half meter aside from lathe to pick or place the parts. That is why i think that solution of controlling this "arm" as additional axis in the same lathe setup would be o.k. Viesturs 2010/3/15 Steve Blackmore <[email protected]>: > On Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:59:40 -0500, you wrote: > >>If the existing robot control already works, then there is no sense in >>trying to control that with EMC2 directly. >> >>I'd tie EMC2 together with the robot controls via digital I/O, or the >>Modbus interface via Classic Ladder. The interface should be pretty >>simple and consist of just a few handshake lines. >> >>Lathe Output -> Ready to load -> Robot input >>Robot output -> Release Chuck -> Lathe input >>Lathe output -> Chuck Released -> Robot input >>Robot output -> Part ready to chuck -> Lathe input >>Lathe output -> Chuck clamped -> Robot input >>Robot output -> Robot clear of lathe -> Lathe input >>Lathe output -> Lathe busy -> Robot input > > I'd agree with Dave here. > >>> Request for a price quote from a potential client ended with a >>> revelation to me that i have to find a way to decrease the production >>> cost and that involves also reduction of labor time. > > You're right in my bread and butter zone here <G> > > Firstly I'd look at the lathe code, see if it can be improved on, then > look at the feeds/speeds and tooling and see if that can be improved > within the capabilities of the machine. The crossing point for > production speed to cost is the secret. It's sometimes more cost > effective to run slower and tooling last longer than to run flat out > with increased tool/machine wear and more frequent insert replacement. > > Any good CAM program should be able to optimise the code, but I still > find I can shave a little off any CAM programs job times manually. > Whether they can recoup my charge for doing that within their job cycle > lifetime is their problem ;) > > Steve Blackmore > -- > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Download Intel® Parallel Studio Eval > Try the new software tools for yourself. Speed compiling, find bugs > proactively, and fine-tune applications for parallel performance. > See why Intel Parallel Studio got high marks during beta. > http://p.sf.net/sfu/intel-sw-dev > _______________________________________________ > Emc-users mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Download Intel® Parallel Studio Eval Try the new software tools for yourself. Speed compiling, find bugs proactively, and fine-tune applications for parallel performance. See why Intel Parallel Studio got high marks during beta. http://p.sf.net/sfu/intel-sw-dev _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
