GUIDE: How to Track Programming Changes with RoboLive Visual

RoboLive® Visual is more than just process visualization: it’s a complete toolset for managing every aspect of how you interact with your robotic joining process data. Data in RoboLive® is displayed in a few different ways to facilitate this. The process visualization window shows a useful visualization of all joining processes on 3D models of your parts & products. The parameter table gives a more detailed overview of the specific parameters associated with each process point. And one of the most useful and unique features of the software is the timeline. Using the timeline, RoboLive® systems with an update method can track all programming changes made easily in just a few steps:

1: Getting Data Updates

RoboLive® is a software solution that comes in two parts. The first, Setup, gives you unlimited access to a client custom-made with your products and specifications. The second, if desired, offers a choice between Server or Service updates. While there are a few differences, the ultimate result is the same: updates allow new sets of data to be included into your RoboLive® Client.

With Server updates this is done autonomously via virtual machine, meaning no manual effort is required to have your Client updated with the most current version of robot programming. Serviced updates are available for cases where a Server isn’t possible, such as due to IT constraints. Customers with Serviced updates will submit robot backups to our offsite processing program, which will return a downloadable update weekly.

2: Viewing Different Data Sets

So what happens once the updates are in? By default, RoboLive® displays the most current data in its windows. For users with a Server, this may be updates as often as every shift. But sometimes it’s valuable to understand how current conditions have changed from a past state, or how two past states differed from each other. For that purpose, the Timeline is available at the bottom of the window.

The timeline can be used to navigate a complete history of all data sets saved by RoboLive®. Data takes up minimal storage space, and can be functionally preserved indefinitely on minimal system storage space.

To select a different data set, simply left click on the timeline on any of the red lines representing an available data set. The blue arrow marking the current set will move accordingly, and all windows will update to show the requested data.

3: Comparing Data Sets

In addition to viewing different data sets, RoboLive® also can compare two sets and highlight any differences. To compare two data sets, simply navigate using left-click as described above to the first set you would like to compare. Right clicking on the timeline on any other data set will bring up a comparison mode showing only the processes that have been changed. The process visualization window will show your product model with only changed processes displayed, while the parameter table will filter to the corresponding process’s data. The associated table can even be exported as a spreadsheet for further use.

Comparing data sets and tracking programming changes is a powerful tool that has many different use cases. For example, the timeline can be used to monitor the progress of system integration work and verify the progress taking place each day. If RoboLive® reported an error like a missing or misnamed weld, the timeline can be used to see when a fix was made. It can also help keep track of changes made between shifts, or allow employees who have been away to instantly understand any adjustments to robot programming that have been made in the meantime.

Still have questions about how RoboLive® can help you solve robotics problems in the body shop? We’re publishing a series of guides to help engineers understand just how powerful—and how easy to use—RoboLive® Visual really is. Sign up for email alerts to receive a notification about our next entry, or follow us on LinkedIn to be the first to know.