Best offline programming software

greg1973 · Sep 11th 2015

Hi guys, I need your opinion. I know that all depends on preferences and what it might be used for, but what would be the best offline programming software?
We have dual arm robots sharing track and two axis positioner, welding 2inch thick plates.
There is a lot of multipass welding, touch sensing and coordinated motion used, so that's what we would need to have.

I came across weldpro and octopuz and both have it's cons and pros, but I don't think either of them is what we need.
I know that some of them are more expensive than another, but this is something I'll be looking at later.

I appreciate any suggestions.

Greg

Jamppe · Sep 15th 2015

Company called Delfoi in Finland has a solution for you. They have a product called DelfoiArc. http://www.delfoi.com

greg1973 · Sep 16th 2015

Do they have anything to do with Octopuz? Because interface looks exactly the same. I wonder if it's the same product just under different name for the region purposes.

P.s. thanks for an answer

Jamppe · Sep 16th 2015

I don't know anything about Octopuz. Actually I haven't even heard about it until now. But what I know is it has nothing to do with Delfoi Arc.

Delfoi has been selling Igrip and Delmia before but now they have this new Delfoi Arc. I have been doing a lot of offline programming with Delmia V5 customized by Delfoi and I have nothing but good to say about it/them. I am now considering a change from Delmia V5 to this new Delfoi Arc. Why? Because Delfoi Arc seems to be very good product and its under development.

Jamppe · Sep 16th 2015

Oops...sent too early

What I ment to say was Delfoi Arc is developing all the time and Delmia V5 arc package is not. Delfoi Arc also seems to be a lot of "lighter" program than Delfoi Arc.

greg1973 · Sep 16th 2015

Well it looks the same, but octopuz is a disaster in terms of changing path of weld and arm rotation around those points. Not possible to change any of them is a main disadvantage.
Just after a week of working with it I'm thinking about throwing my computer against the wall
I'm not sure if it's the matter of add-ons which are not available for octopuz or not, but it looks like Delfoi is more advanced option of the same product.

UPDATE:

I tried Delfoi and it's far better than Octopuz.
It is based on the same 3D engine and Visual Componets software, so they are more like an add-ons, but Delfoi definitely gives you more flexibility.
Not perfect and have some glitches though.

vanevery · Oct 6th 2015

Take a look at CENIT products. They operate on top of Delmia and are quite powerful.

http://www.cenit.com/en_EN/plm…are/fastsuite-for-v5.html

There is also a new product being introduced in 2016.

http://www.cenit.com/en_EN/plm…/fastsuite-edition-2.html

Check them out!

Van Every

nubi86 · Oct 11th 2015

Have you tried RoboDK?
https://www.robodk.com
Among other things, you can convert CAM programs (such as cartesian G-code or APT source) into robot programs for robot milling for example. The rotation around the spindle axis is managed automatically to successfully accomplish the path. Here is an example:
https://youtu.be/vznZiQKRdKQ?l…ACQc5E_3c5f3TFXEa56XNR1-m

I might be biased as I work at RoboDK, however, it is an active project and quickly gaining new customers.
It is by far the most affordable and versatile solution right now, offering an API and many examples.

...all the products listed in this thread cost $15,000US or more and they are process-specific, like milling or cutting.

You can try RoboDK for free:
https://www.robodk.com/download.php
We have a library of more than 200 robots. If your robot is not there we will add it at no extra cost. We also take our customer's feedback seriously for future updates.

Simon · Nov 24th 2015

Have you tried ArtiMinds Robot Programming Suite?

The software has won already won some prestigious awards (e.g. from robohub or during the last Automatica fair) and enables a completely new way of robot programming.

It currently supports UR, but will support Denso & Kuka early next year and allows full online & offline programming without any line coding - even in case of highly complex and advanced tasks.
The software allows to program robots via drag'n'drop of predefined templates, which then are parametrized via teach-in. Afterwards you can directly simulate the program and also execute it on the robot controler with a single mouseclick.
We have had our software tested by the N° 1 system integrator in Germany, which concluded that it allows 100x faster programming for a peg-in-hole problem using a force-sensor.

You can try it out for free:
http://www.artiminds.com/software_demo.html

Demo videos of the software & applications can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCk32K_Ouy4Opa5_5UXUYzA

In case of any questiosn, feel free to contact me

mininel · Jul 8th 2016

v-rep (http://www.coppeliarobotics.com/index.html)
SprutCam (http://www.sprutcam.com/home/sprutcam-robot)
Delfoi (http://www.delfoi.com/web/solu…kka/en_GB/delfoi_arc_ENG/)
Robotmaster (http://www.robotmaster.com/en/)
Octopuz (http://octopuz.com/)
RoboDK (http://www.robodk.com/)
ActWeld (http://www.almacam.com/Product…oftware-for-robot-welding)
Delmia (http://www.3ds.com/products-services/delmia)
Artiminds (http://www.artiminds.com/index.html)
Siemens (https://www.plm.automation.sie…ts/tecnomatix/index.shtml ou https://www.plm.automation.sie…ion/robotics/robcad.shtml )
Easy-Rob (http://www.easy-rob.com/en/pro…os-roboticr/skm-dcam.html)

d.hasley · Jul 13th 2016

vanevery previously mentioned CENIT. There are now two versions, one based in Catia/Delmia V5, and another new stand-alone software they are calling Edition 2 (E2), with no CAD or tool path software pre-requisites. Works with every robot and NC machine:

Take a look at CENIT products. They operate on top of Delmia and are quite powerful.

http://www.cenit.com/en_EN/plm…are/fastsuite-for-v5.html

There is also a new product being introduced in 2016.

http://www.cenit.com/en_EN/plm…/fastsuite-edition-2.html

tgrobo · Jul 14th 2016

The best is???

RoboDK?

yours_mike · Aug 12th 2016

Hi Van,

Is the FastSuite E2 free for download? where can i find the link? or is it only for Sale?

thanks

v050577 · Jan 25th 2017

Quote from yours_mike

Hi Van,

Is the FastSuite E2 free for download? where can i find the link? or is it only for Sale?

thanks

Did you found any trial link?

Yakub · Jun 9th 2018

Still no consensus?

robo-prog · Sep 20th 2018

Concerning the list for robot offline-programming software postet by mininel (thanks for the good overview), we can/should add some more major OLP software tools, to be more complete:

AUTOMAPPPS ( http://convergent-it.com/ )
ACTIN ( https://www.energid.com/about )
Visual Components ( https://www.visualcomponents.com/ )

Concerning a consensus about which of the 15 tools is the best: Ther will be no general consens. It is about personal taste and application specific. But as the original question was for welding, I would agree with "Jamppe" : For welding the OLP tool of choice may be indeed DelfoiArc. But just for welding. It is not "the best offline programming software" for all users and for all applications certainly. The same is true for all the others.

Best offline programming software

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