Fastems Fastsimu - powerful offline programming software
Offline programming (OLP) is becoming a requirement in many robotics applications, especially deburring and finishing. However, most of the OLP programs on the market are designed for general use, which is why they often lack some essential features that are needed for these particular applications. This makes programming with a general OLP program complex, time consuming, and clearly not user-friendly. Fastems Fastsimu is a powerful offline programming and simulation program that is specifically designed for robotized deburring and finishing applications.
Robot programs can be created either by using 3D CAD models or by utilizing tool paths created with CAD/CAM software. After simulation, the robot program is ready for use.
Fastsimu is designed to be easy to use and fast to program. The user interface only includes tools that are required for the work at hand, nothing else. Fastsimu is based on a software platform created by Visual Components, which provides outstanding performance and functionality.
CNC tool paths from any CAD/CAM software can be imported to Fastsimu and further converted into a robot program. Fastsimu includes special tools for manipulation of large tool paths, which are typical in finishing applications. Values for a robot’s external axes, rotary table, and/or linear track are assigned automatically, which makes programming straightforward and easy.
Fastsimu supports various 3D CAD formats for importing models of fixtures and workpieces. There are powerful tools for creating and manipulating deburring paths by using features from CAD models. Fastsimu detects surfaces, holes, and edges of the models and creates tool paths automatically. Calibration tools are used for minimizing the differences between the real robot cell and its virtual copy.
Simulation of the robot program includes robot movements, reachability analyses, collision and near-miss detection, automatic tool changes, and cycle time reporting. After a successful simulation, the program is downloaded from the PC to the robot controller. When using Fastsimu, production stops due to programming are short. This is clearly a huge advantage compared to online programming.
Features
- Extensive support for CAD model import. Standard formats: VRML, STL, DXF, 3ds, and optionally one of the following: Inventor, JT, Open, Parasolid, SolidWorks, CATIA, STEP, ProE, IDEAS NX, IGES.
- Open application that is independent of the robot manufacturer.
- Robot cell modeling based on smart components.
- Public component libraries can be utilized in modeling the robot cell.
- Rotary tables and linear tracks can be used as the robot's external axis.
- Comprehensive tools for calibration of the simulation model.
- Robot programs can be created automatically based on machining paths created with CAD/CAM software, importing in APT or NCI format.
- Automatic program point orientation optimization and external axis definition.
- Robot program points can be created automatically by utilizing 3D CAD model features.
- Comprehensive features for editing the program points and paths: adjusting the position and orientation and copying, moving, and mirroring of point groups.
- Process parameter and I/O specifications, support for application-specific instructions.
- Robot program simulation:
- Near-miss and collision inspections.
- Monitoring of robot joint limits, speeds, and accelerations as well as singularity detection.
- Tool change simulation.
- Cycle time inspection.
- Two-way compilers for transferring robot programs between Fastsimu and the robot controller.
- Additional features can be implemented with Python programming language.
- System requirements
- Operating system Windows XP or later
- 3D graphics accelerated hardware is recommended
