OMRON introduces new functions for its Robotics Integrated Controller

April 19, 2022 6:10 pm

Virtual teaching function to reduce 90 percent production equipment commissioning time for inspection processes.

OMRON Corporation (Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan; President & CEO: Yoshihito Yamada) announced the expansion of its “Sysmac Studio 3D Simulation” with the inclusion of the offline teaching functions. This is simulation software for “Robotics Integrated Controller” which integrates and controls robots and control devices like vision, servo and safety that make up production equipment.

In addition to a shortage of skilled engineers, manufacturing sites face the challenge of increasing the number and complexity of inspection items prior to shipment, which requires a lot of time. However, while automation at manufacturing sites is advancing, the automation of the inspection for complex products has been slow to progress because it often relies on the experience and visual inspection of skilled technicians. In addition, the equipment development system that relies on skilled engineers requires improvement because of the man-hours required to adjust the actual equipment.

The new expanded functionality in the Sysmac Studio 3D Simulation enables virtual teaching of the motion of a camera-mounted arm robot for product inspection. For example, the teaching of an automotive part with 20 to 30 inspection points can be completed in about one hour on a desk using the new function, whereas the conventional preparation work with the actual product or actual machine would have needed one day. In addition, virtual teaching enables remote pre-preparation on a laptop, even if the operator is forced to work remotely due to the Covid-19, so that on-site work is limited to fine-tuning, thereby reducing the workload of workers at manufacturing sites that are suffering from labour shortages. With CAD data, the inspection target can be virtually converted to 3D and taught while the product is still in the design phase. It also shortens the time required to start up production of new products.

Features of Sysmac Studio 3D Simulation

Simulation software that can reproduce the entire facility digitally and easily verify its operation with the same accuracy as the actual equipment by utilizing the Robotics Integrated Controller. The software can also simulate entire facilities, including custom robots developed in-house by the customer and equipment from partner companies. In addition to OMRON’s extensive line-up of control devices, including robots, the software can verify a wide range of entire facilities, including customers’ custom robots and equipment from partner companies, thereby helping manufacturing industry improve their production capacity and achieve everything from facility start-up to maintenance in a short period of time.

For more info, visit: https://www.omron.co.jp/