CNC Milling Robot Assembly

    Hello everyone, I am new to Robots so I hope everyone can guide me to set up a CNC milling Robot.

    I bought a Robot (V)KRC2ed05 with KUKA KR210 Robot from a friend. It already has an external 7th turntable integrated, and the seller informed me that it has 2 more Digital I/O Modules and 1 Analog Output Module in the controller. I know it needs to install a Spindle Milling Head for it, so I ordered an additional milling head for it. Please help me know what devices are needed and what other configurations are needed to complete a CNC Milling Machine to operate it. I am using Powermill software to program machining for my CNC machine, it can program simulated machining for multi-axis CNC machines and Robots. And has anyone used Powermill software to be able to export machining files on KUKA Robot? Thank you very much

    Edited 2 times, last by HHHYen (April 14, 2025 at 6:19 AM).

  • Fubini April 14, 2025 at 6:13 AM

    Approved the thread.
    Quote from panic mode

    that will depend on your spindle controller requirements

    Hi. Can you explain this issue more clearly? I don't understand what you mean by the spindle controller requirement? I just need the Robot to receive Gcode commands exported from Powermill software and execute it like a normal multi-axis CNC machine, not much else. The spindle needs to run and change speed automatically like a CNC milling machine.

    spindle needs spindle controller. this is what powers spindle and allows control of the spindle (start/stop and speed). could be electric or pneumatic or whatever...

    spindle itself mounts on the robot. different types of spindle exist (size, type of power,...).

    spindle controller goes into some electrical cabinet, usually on top of robot controller. this needs to be powered and interfaced to robot. interfacing means wiring and programming. type of interface is also not something generic - may be using digital and analog I/O, may use fieldbus... so everything is product specific.

    once the spindle integration is done, then robot program can use it.

    1) read pinned topic: READ FIRST...

    2) if you have an issue with robot, post question in the correct forum section... do NOT contact me directly

    3) read 1 and 2

    oh. i understand what you mean. my CNC machine uses an inverter to control the spindle, it connects to the CNC controller via Analog signal (it can also be controlled via Ethernet) to control on/off and speed change via the CNC controller. i want to ask if Robot can do that? i want to use an inverter to control the spindle with a capacity of 9Kw (HQD). can it be controlled via Analog signal via the available modules on the Robot Controller.

    Quote from HHHYen

    my CNC machine uses an inverter to control the spindle, it connects to the CNC controller via Analog signal (it can also be controlled via Ethernet) to control on/off and speed change via the CNC controller. i want to ask if Robot can do that?

    That depends entirely on what hardware you have. For example, your robot analog output might be 4-20mA, but the analog input on your spindle controller might be 0-10VDC. You have to check all these compatibilities.

    The robot has no means to control the spindle directly -- the spindle is an add-on, not a part of the robot. This is different from a CNC machine, where the spindle is an organic part of the CNC. The spindle mounted to the robot will need to be an independent device, with its own power and control, that simply accepts commands from the robot via I/O.

    Quote from HHHYen

    i want to use an inverter to control the spindle with a capacity of 9Kw (HQD). can it be controlled via Analog signal via the available modules on the Robot Controller.

    Depends on the inverter. Some inverters accept analog speed control signals, some do not. You need to purchase your hardware to match.

    that looks ok but everything shown is only standard signals (control signals). you also need to consider safety aspect and make sure that spindle can only run if operator is safe. planning ahead goes long way to avoid issues. for example getting VFD with STO, means one can omit external safety contactors. one way to confirm that spindle is not running is to use safety relay to monitor for zero speed.

    1) read pinned topic: READ FIRST...

    2) if you have an issue with robot, post question in the correct forum section... do NOT contact me directly

    3) read 1 and 2

    Quote from panic mode

    that looks ok but everything shown is only standard signals (control signals). you also need to consider safety aspect and make sure that spindle can only run if operator is safe. planning ahead goes long way to avoid issues. for example getting VFD with STO, means one can omit external safety contactors. one way to confirm that spindle is not running is to use safety relay to monitor for zero speed.

    Yes thank you, I will pay serious attention to safety measures, about Safe Torque Off I will consider whether the inverter has this function. There will be more work to do, I hope to be helped in the next topics. Thank you very much.

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