CC BY
19HiLASE-PS-2
Robotic arm HMI for laser shock peening applications
M. Bohm1'2, J. Kaufman1, J. Brajer1, T. Mocek1
1HiLASE Centre, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolni Brezany, Czech Republic
2Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
The HiLASE centre is equipped with a Laser shock peening (LSP) station. LSP is a surface enhancing technique and it is used to prolong the fatigue life of metallic materials. Part of the station is an industrial robotic arm used to handle the processed parts. Learning to program an industrial robotic arm using a tech pendant has a steep learning curve and requires special training. In order to facilitate the utilisation of the LSP station at the HiLASE centre for untrained operators, a human-machine interface (HMI) for the station's industrial robotic arm is being developed. This project aims to determine what type of HMI is the most suitable for the given application and to implement this solution. A computer based HMI is chosen as most suitable for the LSP station, because it is low-cost and flexible. The HMI in question uses a commercially available Online programming software to connect to the robot controller. Online programming allows executing the movements on the real robot at the same time as it is being simulated. The software is shipped with Application programming interfaces (APIs) for various industrial robotic arm controllers. The actual Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the HMI is created using a high-level programming language. The HMI allows the operator to control the main LSP parameters, namely the spot size, spot overlap and the size and number of the patches. Additionally, the operator can choose between different peening strategies, which can affect the final results. The HMI for the LSP station has been developed and in the future will make it necessarily for the operator to control the peening process more precisely.
