Hello everyone,
I work at the factory where we have the old automation systems, and I should check the condition, technical documentation, software, etc. After that, we will decide where we need modernization in the future. I think, in the first, I need to create a checklist. Maybe someone has an example or can give me some advice about it. 
Thanks in advance!
Display MoreNope. ChatGBT is powerful, but do you think the administrators of this project would make themselves obsolete?
We are not at Skynet level yet. We will always need techs who can calibrate harmonic drives, write code and feed the guard dog at the factory.
Get Some,
Mike
About "feed the guard dog at the factory" has very well said 
KUKA does offer energy monitoring on KRC4, but I have never looked into it or used it. My guess was that question was asked since robot is considered for purchase and not yet available. If one has the robot and it is running some program, one can easily hang a clamp meter on one (or all) phases and see current draw - power is easily computed from that even if device does not offer own means to monitor power or energy... On KRC one should also be able to do that just by using Trace tool that is part of the KSS
Now, we are only considering the concept of robotics and calculating the costs. It would be great to get the average and maximum value of the robot consumption for approximate calculations.
Hello, community,
I need to calculate how much energy will consume 2 robots for 1 year:
1.YASKAWA MPX2600 - 26280kw/year (please check is right this data is)
2.KUKA KR150 R3100-2 (I can't find this information on KUKA Xpert)
Thanks in advance!
Dear community,
I have a question about service for the robot and control system namely KUKA.
I did read manuals about maintenance of robot and control system, and I'm interested in question how the KUKA official cervice provides its service.
-Does the KUKA provide extra services that are not listed in manuals?
-How does the KUKA perform customer support? For example, the robot or control system have problem, KUKA will give remote consultation or the arrival of a specialist?
-Does the big difference between the official KUKA service and local companies on service?
-What advice would you give about work with a service company?
P.S. If someone shares an example of a technical task for service of robot, I will be happy.
Display MoreHey all,
Over the time I have created my own styleguides to get my projects standardized as good as possible. These docs describes for example the naming conventions for programs, variables or signals, etc. and many more information. Let's make an example for a digital input:
diDoorLockedSt1
di/do + functional description + station/fixture
I wonder if you also have your own naming conventions, standards, etc. and how it looks.
Hello,
Can you show me your example (If it possible)? Or tell please the sources on which you search the information.
I also look for information to create my own standard, but so far I have little experience with robots.
Display MoreThe only data point I can add here is that, when KUKA ships KRCs from the factory, they have the internal batteries disconnected. I assume that is to prevent charge leakage.
That said, even a disconnected battery will self-discharge over time.
The motherboard coin-cell battery should last several years, but even with the controller off, it is slowly losing power just keeping the BIOS CMOS memory alive.
If planning to leave a KRC unpowered for a long time, I would definitely consider disconnecting the main batteries, and make sure to leave the controller powered up for several hours to re-charge them once the KRC has power again.
Removing the coin-cell battery on the motherboard isn't really going to save you anything, unless you expect the KRC to be in storage for years.
For both types of battery, have some spares available, because after the robot sits for too long, there's no way to guarantee those batteries will be usable.
As far as I understood, disconnecting the system from the power supply will not be of much use.
Display Morenot much info on this from KUKA that i am aware of...
but they did offer a bit more info for KRC5.
basically in case of KRC5 they simply moved those same batteries out into a separate enclosure and call it a KRC5micro Battery Pack or UPS (article number 00-337-133). this allows equally or even more cumbersome access to batteries (must remove eight screws to get to them) but one advantage is that this unit can be outside so one does not need to open controller. this could be an improvement for places with strict safety standards.
and the documentation for this unit does offer some info on recharging schedule. it is not much but it is more than i what was available before.
Thanks for the information
Display Moreyou can have some fruit sitting on your desk (bananas or berries for example). you do not have to eat them but eventually they will perish.
essentially the same things happen to everything - even machines. only the time scale is different....
when robot system is powered, components are stressed and slowly wear out... even if robot is doing nothing. an example of this are fans, HDD/SDD (continuous read/write access), PSU (converting and supplying power), servo drives, etc. even non-moving components age due heat produced by components (electronics enemy #1). this is a very slow process of course.
when robot system is powered off, it is still wearing out. chemicals (lubricants, seals) continue to break down. this is glacier speed as well... but batteries continue supplying power and without recharge will run out in couple of weeks. so if planning to store a robot for some time, make sure batteries are charged and then have them disconnected (X305). should still have them topped off periodically or they will die. this is the most obvious problem and sign of age. with batteries properly conditioned, switched off system can hold for long time.
What do you recommend?
Leave the control system on and time to time move the robot, or turned off the power of system and disconnect the batteries?
At the moment need to use the robot once a few week.
Dear community,
I have a question about possible downtime of robot.
If I do not need to work with robot some time.
Robot is programmed and made mastering.
The batteries is OK.
What the best solution for maximum preservation of robot control system components and robot?
a)The robot control system is disconnected from the energy
(How long time the control system can be turned off? If I will use this solution, will I have a problem starting it on after a long downtime?)
b)The robot control system is work all time
Control System: Kuka KR C4
Thanks in advance
Display MoreIf You want a practical example from automotive industry, You can try to find GM Global Standard, mainly the documents nammed GRS-x, where GRS stands for Global Robotics Specification (or something like this). And since this is copyrighted information, please don't ask for this here in the forum.
But You need to have in mind that:
- automakers are using industrial robots since its inception, and they have a huge number of robots running at their plants. So they have very deep and specific requirements on the subject, that can be an overkill for other companies.
- GM, in the case, only uses a custom version of FANUC robots on most of its plants, and its standards are built over this specific brand.
The main question here is: is just You that are new to robotics, or Your company never used robots as well? Because, if You have robots at Your company, You can take the "lessons learned" on these previous projects as the base of Your standard.
But I will give my two cents here, on a more broad spectrum: EOAT payloads.
Lots of companies doesn't pay attention to this subject, what can rapidly escalate to a real nighmare in some situations.
So You, as the customer, must require that integrator check and validate theorethical and real payloads, for each robot and for each carried tool (or carried tool + product, if is the case). Most robot brands provide some kind of software to check at leat theorethical payload data. To check real payload data, You need to buy separated robot software option, and there are some other needs, as free space to make a robot perform a pendulum test, for example.
Thanks for the answer, we are only start work with robots.
Display Morerequirements will vary depending where you or your clients are. they can be imposed through regulations but there can also be things that are not regulated but clients still request them.
in general safety standards are country specific although robotic safety standards are harmonized and quite similar.
companies in same country can have different internal standards. so there is no universal answer, specially since you did not state what country you are from.
many small companies are happy that they got new cell that does the work and do not push for more (documentation etc.).
automotive companies in particular are very aware of this and will usually spell everything exactly as part of requirements long before project starts. they will not be happy with cell being operational, they will insist on full documentation, source code of everything, and will also dictate what products can be used - you cannot just go and pick robot or PLC or HMI that you are familiar with or can get good deal on. They will usually dictate every little thing including what type of wiring labels to use, how code must be structured etc. Often they will have ready templates or project examples.
I am in Canada so here there are number of standards like
Z432 - Machine safety directive
Z434 - Robotic safety
Z142 - Press safety
etc.
Then there are electrical standards (panel building , wiring, power distribution,...), lockout etc,
Then there are field inspections and approvals. If product does not meet CSA or UL it cannot be used and must be replaced or modified to meet the standards. This can be expensive.
Also there is a pre-health and safety review that goes over hazards and evaluates risk and remedies including determining minimum acceptable safety category.
I am sure similar exists pretty much everywhere but you need to ask around in place where you live.
I am from Ukraine and i work on European factory. We are adhere to Ukrainian, European and internal standards. I plan to develop an internal standard for the integration of industrial robots, to do this, I need to find all possible world standards and make one common which will take into account everything, especially the points of robot safety.
As far as I understand from what I found on the internet, the basic standards for robots in Europe are:
- EN 12100
- EN ISO 10218-2
I am interested in requirements that are not spelled out in the standards, but customers still require them, as in your example with automotive companies. (Even if these requirements seem unnecessary)
For example:
- What package of documents usually provide integrator after
installation?
- Do customers looking for certified integrator who have completed
certain courses for programming or it is usually not necessarily?
- What types of security are commonly used? Light
barrier/fence/other?
- As usually used robot independently or with PLC? (As far as I know,
robots have their inputs and outputs which can be used for simple
projects)
- Which manufacturer of external axes is usually chosen? Same as
robot manufacturer for cell or other company?
- Are there any requirements for the robot tool?
- Are there any requirements for the programmed speed of the robot?
- What data must be obtained in order to easily maintenance and
adjust the program (if we need it in future)?
- Who usually develops the concept for integration? Customer or
integrator?
- Etc.
Also what need to pay attention to after installing and configuring the robot. What need to check?
I understand that need to check some basic things such as:
- Security system operation
- Integrity of equipment
- Full movement of the work axes and stop at the limits
- Complete set of a cell
What else can be checked?
I understand that these questions may seem simple to you which do not require explanation, but remind I have just started to study this topic and all this is still new to me.
Thank you.
Hello dear community,
I am a junior engineer and don't have enough experience. I ask for your advice as more experienced professionals.
Perhaps someone can share an example standard for the integration of industrial robots in a factory.
For example:
- Requirements for an integrator;
- Programming requirements for robot;
- Safety robot system requirements;
- The list of documentation provided by the integrator after installation;
- Etc.
Or please tell me what need to pay attention when working with an integrator and writing a technical task.
Thanks in advance
P.S. I searched for a similar topic on the forum but did not find.
