Robotic Milling

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Overview

  • Robotic milling presents an opportunity for cost-effective large-scale machining, with industrial robots being ten times more cost-effective than traditional milling machines for the same workspace. However, the challenge lies in achieving precision and productivity when working with metals, as current capabilities are limited to plastics and wood. We provide solutions for precision machining in Metals, both for one-offs and series production with high productivity.  

Benefits

  • Cost-Effective Large-scale precision: Achieve precision in large-scale production without the high costs associated with traditional methods. This efficiency translates into the possibility to premanufacture large components such as trusses etc.  
  • High Flexibility: Industrial Robots deliver unparalleled flexibility compared to traditional Machining centers, this in terms of automation and the integration of additional processes such as 3D-Printing, painting, Grinding etc.  
  • Robot Agnostic: Our Solutions:  Our solutions are compatible with a wide range of robotic systems, eliminating the need for specific brands or models.

Robotic milling presents an opportunity for cost-effective large-scale machining, with industrial robots being ten times more cost-effective than traditional milling machines for the same workspace. However, the challenge lies in achieving precision and productivity when working with metals, as current capabilities are limited to plastics and wood.

Our goal is to revolutionize robotic milling in metals by taking a holistic approach. We are developing innovative concepts that address various aspects simultaneously, including robot stiffness and dynamics, machining processes, tooling, control systems, system-aware tool-path planning, and in-line measurement and correction.

We are currently exploring two approaches: For series production, we implement repetitive learning control, periodically measuring machined parts on a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) to adapt the tool-path. In lot-size one scenarios, we have devised a secondary kinematic system that mitigates robot deflections and oscillations in real-time, enhancing stiffness and dynamics. Our future work aims to benchmark these solutions and develop process models for generating tool paths that optimize working points for the system, ultimately enabling productive and accurate robotic milling in metals.