Robot integration for production machines
Machine builders can get a handle on integration of two- to six-axis kinematics
As levels of automation increase, robots are being used more and more frequently for handling and assembly tasks. This increases the complexity of the automation process, because robots come with their own systems that need to be configured in parallel. The necessary expertise must first be built up or brought in; there’s no continuity between operation of the robots and the machines, and a change of robot manufacturer will prove very costly because existing programs can no longer be used. How to resolve this complexity and optimize robot integration?
Program integration for five- and six-axis kinematics
Using the TIA Portal from V14 or later and a SIMATIC S7-1500 controller, you can integrate the program for the robot system into the controller. The interpolation remains on the robot controller.
Common engineering for PLC and robotics
All popular six-axis robots are only available as a system comprising mechanics, controller, engineering software, and operator unit. This means that six-axis interpolation can’t be fully integrated in systems from most manufacturers, which leads to parallel automation environments: two controllers, two engineering tools, two operator units. These systems also differ completely from manufacturer to manufacturer, and so there’s no standardized interface between the PLC and the robot – it has to be redefined all over again every time.
Using the TIA Portal reduces cost and complexity because you can continue to use familiar commands and interfaces in the engineering environment.
System integration of two- to four-axis kinematics
Standard and user-specific kinematics can be fully integrated into the SIMATIC S7-1500 T-CPU at the system level using TIA Portal V15 or later.
Technology object in action
The “kinematics technology object” was incorporated in SIMATIC S7-1500 technology CPUs for the first time with the TIA Portal V15. The system-integrated motion control function enables the control and coordination of kinematics with up to four interpolating axes (X, Y, Z, and an orientation axis A).
The kinematics technology object currently supports seven pre-defined kinematics (Cartesian portal, roll picker, articulated arm, cylindrical robot, Scara robot, Delta picker, tripod) and user-defined kinematics.
The spatial programming of kinematic movement uses the customary programming environment from SIMATIC Step 7 and standardized functional modules based on PLCopen. The technology object also offers extensive diagnostic and monitoring options with no need for additional programming.
