An innovative company in the space industry investigated the use of industrial robots to machine large aluminium structures.
High-accuracy robot calibration was required for precise machining of the components and to ensure the necessary absolute accuracy.
An innovative company in the space industry investigated the use of industrial robots to machine large aluminium structures. The aim was to develop a manufacturing solution for components several metres in diameter.
Milling applications place particularly high demands on absolute accuracy. Even small pose deviations can lead to dimensional errors, fit problems or reduced quality.
The robot was equipped with a recalibration system and measured again repeatedly during several modifications of the test cell. Robot calibration enabled systematic geometric errors to be identified and corrected. In this project, absolute accuracy was improved from approximately 1.5 mm to around 0.15 mm.
The milling tests confirmed the suitability of the technology for future production installations. High absolute accuracy enabled robust process control and provided the basis for subsequent scaling to significantly larger production systems.
