A robot control device for a robot system that includes: an articulated robot having a plurality of internal drive axes; a processing head which is retained to a leading end of the robot, and has a processing tool and a tool drive axis that causes the processing tool to move; and an external driving mechanism which has one or a plurality of external drive axes and positions the robot, in which the robot system causes the processing tool to make contact with a processing target, and conducts predetermined processing on the processing target, in which the control device controls the internal drive axis and the external drive axis so as to position the processing head at a target position which is set as a position of processing the processing target, and controls the tool drive axis so as to make the processing tool make contact with the processing target, and the robot control device detects contact between the processing tool and the processing target by monitoring torque of the internal drive axis, the tool drive axis and the external drive axis, and performs position compensation of the robot.

In order to improve a method for positioning a centre point of a second machine tool unit of a machine tool on a geometric axis of a first machine tool unit of the machine tool, wherein the second machine tool unit has a circular path concentric with the centre point, and wherein the first machine tool unit has a component that is rotatable about the geometric axis, in such a way that said method can be performed by an operator easily, reliably and within a short timeframe, it is proposed that a measuring unit is arranged in a defined manner relative to the geometric axis and the position of the circular path relative to the geometric axis is established using the measuring unit, that the position of the centre point of the circular path in the geometric plane relative to the geometric axis is calculated, and that adjustment paths in the geometric plane, which are associated with the adjustment directions, for positioning the centre point on the geometric axis are calculated, and that the machine tool units are moved relative to one another in accordance with these adjustment paths.

The present disclosure is directed to calibrating position detection for a tool. The tool can use a sensor to detect a first value of a parameter. The tool can use a motor to extend the working member of the tool towards a working surface. The tool can include a base. The tool can detect, with the working member in contact with the working service, a second value of the parameter. The tool can determine a z-axis position of the working member relative to the working surface.

A robot system capable of reliably detecting contact between a robot or a workpiece and an external object. The robot system includes: a robot including a handling part; a handling force-detection part that detects a handling force applied to the handling part; an operation controller that causes the robot to operate in accordance with the handling force; an external force-detection part that detects an external force acting on the robot; and a contact force-calculation part that calculates a contact force by subtracting the handling force from the detected external force.

Provided are a plate holding device, a plate detaching apparatus, a plate attaching apparatus and a plate attaching-detaching apparatus which are capable of reliably attaching and/or detaching a plate with respect to a plate-receiving metal frame. The plate holding device comprises: a plurality of holding members for holding a plate for a sliding nozzle device; widening and narrowing mechanisms to selectively widen and narrow a distance between the holding members; a pressing unit for pressing a central region of the plate when the plate is held by the holding members; and a force sensor for detecting a force received by the holding members and/or the pressing unit from the held plate. The plate holding device is configured to be mounted to a distal end of a robot arm.

The present disclosure is directed to calibrating position detection for a tool. The tool can use a sensor to detect a first value of a parameter. The tool can use a motor to extend the working member of the tool towards a working surface. The tool can include a base. The tool can detect, with the working member in contact with the working service, a second value of the parameter. The tool can determine a z-axis position of the working member relative to the working surface.

In order to improve a method for positioning a centre point of a second machine tool unit of a machine tool on a geometric axis of a first machine tool unit of the machine tool, wherein the second machine tool unit has a circular path concentric with the centre point, and wherein the first machine tool unit has a component that is rotatable about the geometric axis, in such a way that said method can be performed by an operator easily, reliably and within a short timeframe, it is proposed that a measuring unit is arranged in a defined manner relative to the geometric axis and the position of the circular path relative to the geometric axis is established using the measuring unit, that the position of the centre point of the circular path in the geometric plane relative to the geometric axis is calculated, and that adjustment paths in the geometric plane, which are associated with the adjustment directions, for positioning the centre point on the geometric axis are calculated, and that the machine tool units are moved relative to one another in accordance with these adjustment paths.

A clearance gage that includes an elongated shaft having a first end and a second end, a gage element connected to the first end of the elongated shaft, where the gage element defines a first width and a second width measured perpendicular to the elongated shaft, where the first width is larger than the second width, where a thickness of the elongated shaft is not more than the second width, where the first width defines a size of the gage element to assess a gap clearance between two components, and a marker connected to the elongated shaft, where the marker is positioned at a predetermined distance from the gage element along the elongated shaft, where the marker defines a marker width measured in a direction perpendicular to the elongated shaft that is greater than the second width of the gage element.

The present disclosure is directed to calibrating position detection for a tool. The tool can use a sensor to detect a first value of a parameter. The tool can use a motor to extend the working member of the tool towards a working surface. The tool can include a base. The tool can detect, with the working member in contact with the working service, a second value of the parameter. The tool can determine a z-axis position of the working member relative to the working surface.

A spot welding system comprises a robot which changes a relative position of a spot welding gun and a workpiece. A control device drives an electrode drive motor so that a movable electrode of the spot welding gun abuts on the workpiece, and is formed so as to perform a position detection control which detects a position of the workpiece based on a position of the movable electrode when a state value of the electrode drive motor deviates from a predetermined range. An operation program includes a workpiece detection parameter for performing the position detection control. The workpiece detection parameter is set at each of welding points in the operation program.