Robcad engineer vs Robot Programer

[bogdic]

What is most wanted job? Do Robcad Engineers want to become Robot Programmmers or is the other way around?

Are there any Robcad Engineers that also work in programming robots?

[SkyeFire]

In an ideal world, every RobCad engineer would start out as a hands-on robot programmer in a real-world working environment.  In my experience, far too many RobCad engineers come from pure-CAD or computer-graphics backgrounds where all their experience is in how to use the software, and not in the real-world operations where the shortcomings of the software can be learned.  I've seen thousands of man-hours wasted b/c RobCad "engineers" who assumed that their model defined reality, ignoring things like wires, hoses, cabling, etc.
The problem here is that, while the best RobCad engineers are people with strong real-world robot programming backgrounds, robot programmers who have the skills to learn to use RobCad effectively to maximum effect are often considered critical resources on the shop floor, and encounter resistance to moving "upstairs".

As for who wants which job, well... robot programming usually takes place in hot, noisy, physically unpleasant conditions, whereas RobCad work usually takes place in an office-style environment with at least some degree of climate control.  The conclusion should be obvious.

[bogdic]

Thanks for the reply. Really good info.

[DHawk]

I have spent many years reprogramming RobCad programs, interference zone's are typically the worst from a download.  It is best to start out as a hands on person and then graduate to simulation.  You learn more about the capabilities of the robot with your hands on the teach pendant.  But SkyeFire is correct, it always seems to be hot, noisy and dirty out on the shop floor! 

[bogdic]

What about the wages? Is a robot programmer payed better than a Robcad Engineer?

[Ynze]

In an ideal world, every RobCad engineer would start out as a hands-on robot programmer in a real-world working environment.  In my experience, far too many RobCad engineers come from pure-CAD or computer-graphics backgrounds where all their experience is in how to use the software, and not in the real-world operations where the shortcomings of the software can be learned.  I've seen thousands of man-hours wasted b/c RobCad "engineers" who assumed that their model defined reality, ignoring things like wires, hoses, cabling, etc.
The problem here is that, while the best RobCad engineers are people with strong real-world robot programming backgrounds, robot programmers who have the skills to learn to use RobCad effectively to maximum effect are often considered critical resources on the shop floor, and encounter resistance to moving "upstairs".

As for who wants which job, well... robot programming usually takes place in hot, noisy, physically unpleasant conditions, whereas RobCad work usually takes place in an office-style environment with at least some degree of climate control.  The conclusion should be obvious.

I think that you're way to negative. All I can say is we have much better experiences. But you have to put in time to train the robcad guys. If not it would be the same as putting a cad-designer on the line with a teach pendant. Then everybody agrees that he needs a training. Why should it be different on line. In our team we have a robot programmer who went to be robcad enineer and several robcad engineers who also went down to program a robot and a few who only did robcad. But with all the experience between our selfs also the "office guys" perform well. We invite our responsable robot programmers to come up and sit with us behind the screen and comment. That's how we learn.