Robot Simulation and Offline Programming (OLP)

  • Robotic Engineering

In the classical method, to program a robot, you stop the line and stand by the robot with a Teach Pendant. This is lost production. With Offline Programming (OLP), you prepare the next model's program on a PC while the robot involves in production.

1. Why Simulation?

Before the robot is even ordered, the cell is built in 3D (Digital Twin):

  • Reachability Analysis: "Can the robot reach this point?" is solved on the PC, not the floor. Moving a robot base 10cm because it can't reach takes 2 days on site, 2 seconds in simulation.
  • Collision Detection: The probability of the robot hitting the fixture or itself is tested with 100% accuracy.
  • Cycle Time Verification: "Can this job be done in 45 seconds?" is answered with millisecond precision.

2. Virtual Commissioning

Not just robot motions, but PLC signals are simulated too. Siemens PLCSIM Advanced communicates with Process Simulate. Whether the robot stops when a sensor triggers is tested virtually. When you go to site, you just press "Play".