A method for calibrating a positional relation between a main spindle and a contact tool sensor attached to a table in a machine tool. The method includes: mounting a reference tool on the main spindle and obtaining measurement position coordinates as respective tool sensor measurement values, the measurement position coordinates being of a distal end of the reference tool in at least two different measurement regions on an upper surface of the contact tool sensor; outputting predetermined difference values based on the respective tool sensor measurement values; determining an abnormality when the difference values are compared with preliminarily set acceptable values and at least one of the difference values are out of the acceptable values; and calibrating a positional relation between the main spindle and the contact tool sensor based on the respective tool sensor measurement values when the abnormality is not determined at the determining of abnormality.

A robot system includes a robot and a control portion. The robot includes a contact detection portion configured to output a signal in accordance with contact performed by a user. The control portion is configured to control resistance of the robot applied to the user when the user moves the robot, in accordance with a number of contact positions at which the user contacts the robot, based on a signal from the contact detection portion.

Methods and systems for touch-sensing to provide an updated user frame are provided. These include the provision of a user frame and the touch-sensing of a workpiece, where the touch-sensing includes performing a touch-sensing schedule. The touch-sensing schedule includes one of a laser touch-sensing event and a wire touch-sensing event, where one of the laser touch-sensing event and the wire touch-sensing event is switched to the other of the laser touch-sensing event and the wire touch-sensing event while performing the touch-sensing schedule. An offset of the workpiece relative to the user frame is determined based on the touch-sensing of the workpiece and the offset is applied to the user frame to provide the updated user frame. The unique dynamic user frame feature enables same touch sensing program to be cloned and applied on multiple robot controllers.

Methods and systems for touch-sensing to provide an updated user frame are provided. These include the provision of a user frame and the touch-sensing of a workpiece, where the touch-sensing includes performing a touch-sensing schedule. The touch-sensing schedule includes one of a laser touch-sensing event and a wire touch-sensing event, where one of the laser touch-sensing event and the wire touch-sensing event is switched to the other of the laser touch-sensing event and the wire touch-sensing event while performing the touch-sensing schedule. An offset of the workpiece relative to the user frame is determined based on the touch-sensing of the workpiece and the offset is applied to the user frame to provide the updated user frame. The unique dynamic user frame feature enables same touch sensing program to be cloned and applied on multiple robot controllers.

A method for compensating teaching positions which includes: generating a compensation start point and a compensation end point in positions where each of a number of teaching positions is sandwiched between the compensation start point and the compensation end point in a direction crossing a welding path, the number of teaching positions being set along the welding path of a welding base material; detecting a profile of the welding base material along a detection path by performing touch sensing while a welding torch is being moved along the detection path from the generated compensation start point toward the generated compensation end point, a welding wire protruding from the welding torch; and compensating each of the teaching positions based on the detected profile.

While a location where a user is touching a robot (1) is being detected, a movement control section (14) controls a plurality of movable members such that (i) out of the plurality of movable members, a movable member corresponding to the location is prohibited from moving and (ii) every other movable member of the plurality of movable members is permitted to move. This makes it possible to provide a robot (1) that enables injury-free use by a user while the user is touching the robot (1).

A method for calibrating a positional relation between a main spindle and a contact tool sensor attached to a table in a machine tool. The method includes: mounting a reference tool on the main spindle and obtaining measurement position coordinates as respective tool sensor measurement values, the measurement position coordinates being of a distal end of the reference tool in at least two different measurement regions on an upper surface of the contact tool sensor; outputting predetermined difference values based on the respective tool sensor measurement values; determining an abnormality when the difference values are compared with preliminarily set acceptable values and at least one of the difference values are out of the acceptable values; and calibrating a positional relation between the main spindle and the contact tool sensor based on the respective tool sensor measurement values when the abnormality is not determined at the determining of abnormality.

A robot system includes a robot and a control portion. The robot includes a contact detection portion configured to output a signal in accordance with contact performed by a user. The control portion is configured to control resistance of the robot applied to the user when the user moves the robot, in accordance with a number of contact positions at which the user contacts the robot, based on a signal from the contact detection portion.