3D Simulation: FASTSUITE E2 for Sustainable Factory Automation

In the field of cobots, no-code programming plays an important role. With the tracing of Wandelbots, the paths to be processed can be captured. However, this method has the disadvantage that the cobot comes to a standstill. In order to avoid this, especially with frequently changing orders, simulation software is often used for industrial robots. CENIT AG holds a leading position in this market. A product release is now being presented at automatica. The software is also compatible with some cobots, e.g. those from FANUC or Universal Robots. The press release:

CENIT AG presents powerful release of its 3D simulation software at automatica

Factory automation through sustainable digitalization. How this goal can be planned virtually and implemented in reality will be presented by CENIT at this year's Automatica trade fair in Munich (Booth 506 in Hall B5). The technological basis for this is provided by the most powerful release to date of CENIT's own 3D simulation software FASTSUITE E2.

Today, in addition to ever shorter market cycles, companies are increasingly confronted with requirements such as the scarcity of resources, disruptions in supply chains or even political upheavals. This requires an even higher level of response speed and efficiency. "With the enhanced capabilities of FASTSUITE E2, we enable manufacturing companies to optimize their use of human and material resources," explains Jens Fetzer, VP Business and Partner Development, Digital Factory Solutions, CENIT AG. "Due to the manufacturer neutrality of FASTSUITE E2, manufacturers also retain the flexibility in their cell and factory planning to quickly and highly efficiently address necessary adjustments regarding robot or technology deployment," he continues. The new release of the software offers increased automation in programming activities and further optimized simulation quality. Both enable companies to exploit the potential of their robot and factory systems even more efficiently and sustainably. In the latest version, FASTSUITE E2 also impresses with new operating elements and significantly increased performance in offline
programming (OLP). The focus is on OLP core applications such as arc welding and laser cutting.

The most important release innovations at a glance:

• Standardized support for touch-sense operations: Predefined adjustments for numerous robot brands reduce the need for manual adjustments
• Increased flexibility in multi-robot cells or multi-machine setups: Significantly simplified function for moving, duplicating or mirroring
  machining steps
• Automatic tool path optimization for 5-axis laser machines: generation of collision-free programs with just one mouse click
• Improvements in weld programming for arc welding: Significant reduction in programming time

Extended touch-sensing support for arc welding

Touch-sense operations are required to precisely determine the actual position of the welding line on the real part. For this purpose, the robot performs several touch operations before welding, which are defined by means of offline programming. The new release of FASTSUITE E2 extends the already predefined operations by the possibility to define individual probing operations in an agile and intuitive way. The user benefits from a more efficient way of working, as the programming time for defining or modifying touch-sense operations is significantly reduced. (Cf. photo above: Enhanced touch sensing with FASTSUITE for arc welding).

Simplified variant programming as well as duplicating and transforming

As a rule, workpieces require multiple, repetitive operations. An improved FASTSUITE E2 graphical user interface and the updated "Transmit function" now allow users to duplicate and transform part steps in an automated - and thus easier and at the same time safer - way. This means that entire programs for spot welding, arc welding or painting can now be mirrored to another work cell without having to reprogram the entire part. The result: a clear increase in efficiency, as the effort of manual programming is eliminated.

Automatic tool path optimization in 5-axis machining

Due to the topology of sheet metal parts, a previously common alignment of the laser cutting head can lead to collisions. FASTSUITE E2's new, automatic toolpath optimization feature makes it possible to automatically calculate a collision-free path that is optimized in terms of machine dynamics. Based on the analysis of the toolpath, the user can remove errors and collisions with a single command, creating a toolpath optimized in terms of machine movements. This results in safe machine operation, smooth movements and ultimately better cut quality and shorter cycle times.

Simplified fillet welding (Fillet Weld)

In arc welding, especially when welding thick plates, the welded parts are often designed in assembly structures. These structures follow different design methods and may, for example, have gaps between the plates. This makes the definition of the root weld very complicated and requires manual intervention.

To simplify user interaction, a swipe gesture in FASTSUITE E2 can be used to complete the definition of the weld, regardless of which design method was used. The root weld is safely determined by projection. Users can now create operations much faster by simply specifying the plates to be welded.

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The author of this blog is significantly involved in the AI/robotics project Opdra. He advises on almost all issues related to robotics incl funding/subsidies. More about him can be found here.