Robot calibration

Robot calibration is divided in 4 steps. Each step requires taking a set of measurements. These four steps must be followed in order:

1.Base reference measurements (3 minutes).

2.Tool reference measurements (3 minutes)

3.Calibration measurements (7 minutes, 60 measurements)

4.Validation measurements (7 minutes, 60 measurements).

The following video shows how perform this calibration in 20 minutes:https://youtu.be/Htpx-p7tmYs.验证测量(步骤4)不是人datory to calibrate the robot, however they provide an objective point of view of the accuracy results. It is also possible to see the impact of calibrating the robot in one area and validating it in a different area.

Select the buttonMeasurefor each of the four sets of measurements. This will open a new window that allows taking new measurements as well as import and export existing measurements in a text file (csv or txt format).

Measuring the base

These measurements can be performed anywhere in the tool flange if we measure the same target for all the 6 measurements. To start the measurements, selectMeasurein theBase setupsection. The following window will open. Then, selectStart Measureand the robot will move sequentially through the scheduled measurements.

Robot Calibration Creaform - Image 26

Close the window when the measurements are completed and theMeasurements reference帧将被更新关于机器人英航se frame. If we did not select any reference frame, we can add a reference (selectProgramAdd Reference Frame) and place it under the robot base reference (Drag & Drop in the item tree).

Robot Calibration Creaform - Image 27

The summary will show the position and orientation or the robot reference frame with respect to the calibration reference frame ([x,y,z,w,p,r] format, in mm and radians)

Once this step is completed we can accurately display the workspace of the tracker with respect to the robot in RoboDK in real time.

Measuring the tool

Like the previous section: selectMeasurein theTool setupsection. The following window will open. SelectStart Measureand the robot will move sequentially through the planned measurements. Double click a measurement to continue measuring from that position.

Robot Calibration Creaform - Image 28

The summary will show the calibrated TCP (position and orientation) when the procedure is completed. The definition of the TCP (in the following image “Spindle”) will be updated automatically. If we did not select any TCP, we can add a new one (select “ProgramAdd empty Tool”) and select “Recalculate”.

Robot Calibration Creaform - Image 29

Robot calibration

SelectMeasurein theCalibrationsection. The following window will open. Then, selectStart Measureand the robot will move sequentially through the planned measurements. Double click a measurement to continue measuring from that position.

Robot Calibration Creaform - Image 30

Close the window when the measurements are completed. The robot will be calibrated automatically and it will display the following message if there are no issues.

Robot Calibration Creaform - Image 31

Finally, the green screen will display some statistics regarding the calibration measurements and how much the accuracy is improved for those measurements.

Robot Calibration Creaform - Image 32

Robot validation

We shouldn’t validate the accuracy of the robot using the same measurements that we used to calibrate the robot, therefore, it is recommended to take additional measurements to validate the accuracy (having a more objective point of view of the accuracy results).

The same calibration procedure must be followed to take the validation measurements. The summary will display the validation statistics. See the followingResults Sectionfor more information.