Fanuc Robotics accurately predicts performance with COSMOSMotion

The Challenge
Fanuc Robotics (Rochester Hills, MI) has developed a wide-ranging robotic product line to help customers optimize labor, lower costs, improve quality, and minimize waste. To achieve these goals, their customers need to select the proper size robot for their application. Unfortunately, the current rating method is overly conservative because it doesn't take the path dynamics into account.

Don Bartlett, a senior staff engineer at Fanuc Robotics, faced the issue of coming up with a new method for rating robots taking path dynamics into account. He needed to make sure a robot would perform the real path as required with the real payload, without overloading the robot. Educated guesses were not acceptable--he needed to be sure the new rating system would insure that the robot would work properly for the customer's application.

The Solution
Instead of using traditional assumptions and hand calculations, Bartlett chose to use motion simulation technology. He relied on simulation results to validate the customer's robot path and payload.

Along with SolidWorks CAD software and Fanuc's own Virtual Controller product, Bartlett used COSMOSMotion to understand and predict robot performance under previously untested conditions. COSMOSMotion is built into the SolidWorks environment and produces validated results.

With the click of a button, the COSMOSMotion solution engine accurately simulated the motion of the robot based on Virtual Robot Controller data. Bartlett said, "One of the reasons we chose COSMOSMotion was because it is based on the proven ADAMS solver."

Summary and Metrics:

• Allowed validation of actual dynamic path of robot while carrying customer's desired payload.
• Ability to use a series of data points to drive the robot's joints.
• Viewing synchronized animations and plots enabled fast and clear understanding of robot's motion.