The development of software to assist in off‐line programming for robotic fettling of cast components

During the casting of steel components, burrs and other unwanted material are formed which need to be removed in the deburring process. This is usually effected manually in what is an unpleasant, monotonous, strenuous and even a dangerous task. Robotic deburring can overcome these disadvantages, but many problems must be addressed before this becomes the normal practice because of the complexity of the process. One of the major concerns in all robotic deburring applications is the time that it presently takes to program the robot. It is universally recognised that off‐line programming offers very many advantages and enormous benefits are to be gained; however, to date there are very few if any successful applications. The research being conducted at Sunderland aims to address several of the problems associated with off‐line programming of robots. Some of the problems are particular to the industrial collaborators’ robotic workcell; however, the main concern is in developing an accuracy compensation method in order that “so called” off‐line programming software can be applied.