Siemens, Comau offer integrated robot/CNC control solution

Siemens (Alpharetta, Ga., U.S.) and robot manufacturer Comau (Grugliasco, Italy) have partnered to offer the jointly engineered product Sinumerik Run MyRobot/DirectControl, which enables Comau robot kinematics to be fully integrated into a Siemens CNC system. According to Siemens, the Sinumerik CNC controls the articulated robot arm directly using complex algorithms without the need for a separate robot controller. The robot is programmed entirely on the Sinumerik CNC operator panel.

According to Siemens, integrating control of the robot arm into the CNC helps improve path and positioning accuracy, as well as reliability, and also yields enhanced dynamic response during robot-aided machining tasks. As a result, the robot is able to undertake more challenging machining assignments. The is also said to provide more accurate control and improved capacity for robot operations to run simultaneously with machining time.

To simplify the engineering process, complete configuration for all DirectControl-supported robot arms is stored in the Siemens engineering tool Sizer. The same high level of convenience is offered with robot commissioning. Data sets for the relevant mechanics are made available by Comau and are imported on a channel of the Sinumerik CNC.

In addition, digital twins are available for DirectControl-compatible Comau robot arms to enable work in Siemens NX CAM Robotics. The kinematic 3D robot model and the virtual NC kernel Sinumerik VNCK enable sub-programs generated in the CAD-CAM chain to be completely simulated offline. Additional benefits to this enhancement are said to include reduced footprint due to the elimination of hardware components, lower overall investment, reduced stocking costs for spare parts and greater availability due to improved MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures).

In addition to performing control and safety operations previously assigned to the robot control system, Sinumerik Run MyRobot/DirectControl is said to perform all the same functions as the previous Run MyRobot variants.

This solution is designed to use for manufacturing processes such as additive manufacturing, fiber placement and laser machining, and works with materials including carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRP).