Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for measuring and reporting calibration accuracy of robots and sensors assigned to perform a task in an operating environment. One of the methods includes obtaining sensor data of one or more physical robots performing a process in an operating environment; generating, from the sensor data for a first robot of the one or more physical robots, a motion profile representing how the first robot moves while performing the process; obtaining data representing a plurality of candidate virtual robot components, each having a respective virtual motion profile and is a candidate to be included in a virtual representation of the operating environment; performing a motion profile matching process to determine a first virtual robot component from the plurality of candidate virtual robot components that matches the first robot; and adding the first virtual robot component to the virtual representation.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for measuring and reporting calibration accuracy of robots and sensors assigned to perform a task in an operating environment. One of the methods includes obtaining sensor data of one or more physical robots performing a process in an operating environment; generating, from the sensor data for a first robot of the one or more physical robots, a motion profile representing how the first robot moves while performing the process; obtaining data representing a plurality of candidate virtual robot components, each having a respective virtual motion profile and is a candidate to be included in a virtual representation of the operating environment; performing a motion profile matching process to determine a first virtual robot component from the plurality of candidate virtual robot components that matches the first robot; and adding the first virtual robot component to the virtual representation.

A servo motor controller is provided which enables an offset to be set more easily and accurately, in comparison to the conventional technique. A servo motor controller for controlling a servo motor of an industrial machine includes: a position detection unit that detects a position of the servo motor; a magnetic-pole detection unit that detects a magnetic-pole phase of the servo motor; and a phase calculation unit that determines a calculation-based phase based on position data of the servo motor and magnetic-pole gap information of the servo motor. The servo motor controller is configured to acquire an offset relationship between the magnetic-pole phase detected by the magnetic-pole detection unit and the calculation-based phase determined by the phase calculation unit, after a reference position is passed through.

A method and system for adapting a CNC machine tool path from a nominal workpiece shape to an actual workpiece shape. The method includes defining a grid of feature points on a nominal workpiece shape, where the feature points encompass an area around the machine tool path but do not necessarily include points on the machine tool path. A probe is used to detect locations of the feature points on an actual workpiece. A space mapping function is computed as a transformation from the nominal feature points to the actual feature points, and the function is applied to the nominal tool path to compute a new tool path. The new tool path is used by the CNC machine to operate on the actual workpiece. The feature points are used to characterize the three dimensional shape of the working surface of the actual workpiece, not just a curve or outline.

A method and system for adapting a CNC machine tool path from a nominal workpiece shape to an actual workpiece shape. The method includes defining a grid of feature points on a nominal workpiece shape, where the feature points encompass an area around the machine tool path but do not necessarily include points on the machine tool path. A probe is used to detect locations of the feature points on an actual workpiece. A space mapping function is computed as a transformation from the nominal feature points to the actual feature points, and the function is applied to the nominal tool path to compute a new tool path. The new tool path is used by the CNC machine to operate on the actual workpiece. The feature points are used to characterize the three dimensional shape of the working surface of the actual workpiece, not just a curve or outline.

A method generates an asynchronous trigger signal in a position-measuring device having a position-sensing unit, a processing unit and an interface unit. The position-measuring device is connectable via the interface unit and a bidirectional data channel to subsequent electronics for communication purposes. A synchronous data stream is generated from an asynchronous data stream arriving at the position-measuring device from a direction of the subsequent electronics by sampling the asynchronous data stream in a time pattern of a clock signal. A gate signal is generated upon an enable condition for outputting the trigger signal being detected by evaluating the synchronous data stream. The asynchronous trigger signal is generated upon the gate signal being present and a signal edge of the asynchronous data stream occurring.

A method generates an asynchronous trigger signal in a position-measuring device having a position-sensing unit, a processing unit and an interface unit. The position-measuring device is connectable via the interface unit and a bidirectional data channel to subsequent electronics for communication purposes. A synchronous data stream is generated from an asynchronous data stream arriving at the position-measuring device from a direction of the subsequent electronics by sampling the asynchronous data stream in a time pattern of a clock signal. A gate signal is generated upon an enable condition for outputting the trigger signal being detected by evaluating the synchronous data stream. The asynchronous trigger signal is generated upon the gate signal being present and a signal edge of the asynchronous data stream occurring.

A method for programming a three-dimensional (3D) workpiece scan path for a metrology system comprising a 3D motion control system, a first type of Z-height sensing system, and a second type of Z-height sensing system that provides less precise surface Z-height measurements over a broader Z-height measuring range. The method comprises: placing a representative workpiece on a stage of the metrology system, defining at least a first workpiece scan path segment for the representative workpiece, determining preliminary actual surface Z-height measurements along the first workpiece scan path segment, and determining a precise 3D scan path for moving the first type of Z-height sensing system to perform precise surface Z-height measurements. The precise 3D scan path is based on the determined preliminary actual surface Z-height measurements. The precise 3D scan path may be used for performing precise surface Z-height measurements or stored to be used in an inspection program.

A method for programming a three-dimensional (3D) workpiece scan path for a metrology system comprising a 3D motion control system, a first type of Z-height sensing system, and a second type of Z-height sensing system that provides less precise surface Z-height measurements over a broader Z-height measuring range. The method comprises: placing a representative workpiece on a stage of the metrology system, defining at least a first workpiece scan path segment for the representative workpiece, determining preliminary actual surface Z-height measurements along the first workpiece scan path segment, and determining a precise 3D scan path for moving the first type of Z-height sensing system to perform precise surface Z-height measurements. The precise 3D scan path is based on the determined preliminary actual surface Z-height measurements. The precise 3D scan path may be used for performing precise surface Z-height measurements or stored to be used in an inspection program.

To optimize an automatically optimized machining time for machining a workpiece in a machine tool, an original parts program is loaded into a machine tool controller. The machining of the workpiece using the original parts program is simulated, where a motion path generated by the original parts program in the machine tool is determined. The motion path is classified into at least one area of potential optimization in which there is no workpiece contact. The at least one area of potential optimization is assigned a tolerance space. An optimized motion path is determined within the tolerance space. The machining of the workpiece using the modified parts program is simulated. The optimized motion path is displayed and marked. Once a user has approved the modification in the parts program, machining of the workpiece takes place using the modified parts program.