{"id":5496,"date":"2022-08-11T16:58:17","date_gmt":"2022-08-11T20:58:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robodk.com\/blog\/?p=5496"},"modified":"2024-11-04T10:29:26","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T15:29:26","slug":"easily-calibrate-your-robot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robodk.com\/blog\/easily-calibrate-your-robot\/","title":{"rendered":"Easy Robot Calibration for Optimal Performance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Calibrating your robot is essential if you want to achieve optimal performance and accuracy. But how can you easily calibrate your robot without wasting your budget on expensive and unnecessary calibration services?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without proper calibration, your robot may not function in the way you expect it to. In extreme cases, it might even damage itself or other objects in its workspace.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

In this article, we introduce how to quickly calibrate any robot using simple calibration tools, as well as the benefits of properly calibrating your robot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the right calibration tools and processes, it’s easy to improve the accuracy of your robot, while avoiding the common mistakes people make when they are looking to calibrate their robot for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Robot TCP Calibration and Why is it Important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Robot calibration is the process of ensuring that a robot’s coordinate system is accurately aligned with the coordinate system of its environment. This is important because it allows the robot to accurately navigate to specific locations within its workspace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without accurate calibration, the robot may end up moving to unintended locations within its workspace or reducing the quality of its task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you can choose the best option for you, it’s important to first understand the difference between the 2 basic types of robot calibration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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TCP vs Full Robot Calibration: A Common Confusion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At RoboDK, robot users often come to us with requests for our robot calibration service<\/a>. This is an example of a full robot calibration. It is designed to correct for any inaccuracies in the manufacturing of the robot itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For most robot applications, full robot calibration is just unnecessary. It is only needed if your robot application requires very high accuracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A more useful and widely applicable type of calibration is Tool Center Point (TCP) calibration<\/a>. This involves using a quicker, simpler, and more cost-effective calibration process to increase the accuracy of your robot during offline programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can perform accurate TCP with an off-the-shelf calibration tool, or even without a calibration tool<\/a> if you don’t need such high accuracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 Compelling Benefits of Properly Calibrated Robots<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Why calibrate the Tool Center Point of your robot in the first place?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a few compelling benefits to having a properly calibrated robot. You can get these benefits even with simpler TCP calibration methods using off-the-shelf tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 3 benefits of using this type of calibration:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Increased accuracy for your application \u2014<\/strong> Programming accuracy is the top benefit of TCP calibration. When you direct a well-calibrated robot to a location in its workspace, it will move to exactly that location.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Reduced wear and tear on robot tools \u2014<\/strong> For process tasks (where the robot operates directly on the workpiece) accurate placement can reduce unnecessary wear on the tool. For example, with robotic surface finishing, you will increase the life of your abrasive media.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Optimal use of your robot \u2014<\/strong> Out of the box, robots have high repeatability (they move to the same location every time) but low accuracy (they don’t move to the exact programmed location). TCP calibration is a reliable way to ensure that the robot has both high repeatability and accuracy.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    What Calibration Tools Are Available on the Market?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    There are a variety of robot calibration solutions and tools available on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3 common categories of solutions you can find are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Full robot calibration services \u2014<\/strong> As explained above, this service is only necessary if you want to maximize the accuracy of your robot (e.g. for detailed assembly, accurate laser cutting). For most robot applications, this is unnecessary.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Laser trackers \u2014<\/strong> One of the most accurate tools you can use to calibrate your robot’s TCP is a laser tracker. This involves purchasing or renting expensive laser tracking hardware but is a good option if you need as high TCP accuracy as possible, without going for the full calibration service.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Off-the-shelf calibration tools \u2014<\/strong> Finally, some TCP calibration solutions use simple, off-the-shelf measurement tools, such as TwinTool which we introduce below.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      There are various properties to think about when you are looking for a TCP calibration solution for your robot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Properties to think about include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n