Glue Parameter Visualization with RoboLive®

A screenshot of RoboLive® in action, showing a CAD model with paths and parameters visualized.

Welding torches and nail guns rule the imagination when it comes to fastening, so you might be surprised to find how much glue is used in modern manufacturing. Industrial-strength structural adhesive is water-tight, strong, and lightweight, so it’s a perfect solution for seams in everything from automobiles to airplanes.

Of course, something so important needs to be carefully applied. While a part is held in place, a specialized nozzle deposits the glue along specific preprogrammed lines. Also written into the code are instructional cues to adjust the amount of glue deposited or speed at which it’s applied, specifications referred to as parameters.

Just like with the movement paths, glue parameters are meticulously programmed step by step into robot controller. It’s a delicate, error-prone process—and it’s notoriously difficult to check parameters for correctness once production has begun. Part of this is due to how hard it is to access the information. While the glue data is specific to physical points in three-dimensional space, parameters are only accessible in the code. It’s impossible to visualize where a change should be made, and even harder to confirm that a fix worked: When problems arise with the gluing output, engineers often need to walk the machine through each step of its instructions and try to see what went wrong. It’s a time-consuming and costly process, with imperfect results.

But what if glue parameters weren’t so obfuscated? That’s the question our team of engineers and developers asked. Dressler Automation has years of experience working with some of the biggest names in automotive engineering, so we understand the problem. As we worked towards the release of RoboLive®—our software solution for robotic quality assurance and commissioning—we came up with the answer.

In RoboLive®, glue parameters are displayed right alongside the paths on the CAD model of each part. Engineers can see all data points in real-time without needing to look at the actual code, making it easy to ensure that the robots’ actual movements are in line with the design documentation. And when something’s not right, it’s easy to see exactly what to correct and where to do it: RoboLive®’s visualization tools let you view data for each specific robot, program, and production line.

Glue parameter visualization is a powerful tool that will save manufacturers a lot of time and money: With traditional methods, errors in glue programing could take days to correct, making mistakes costly and updates impractical. RoboLive® is changing the game. For the first time, engineers can view gluing instructions in 3D and evaluate programming instantly. When changes are made or fixes implemented, the results can be reviewed at a glance. That means delivering better quality products with less downtime and less money spent—and that’s why RoboLive® is trusted by industry leading automotive and components manufacturers.

We originally developed RoboLive® for our own internal use, but once we saw how much manufacturers could benefit, we made it available to the public. It’s so much more than just visualization: RoboLive® can generate documentation, calibrate paths, and provide a comprehensive overview of all your robotic production processes.

Ready to see what RoboLive® can do for you? Contact us today for a free demonstration.