Axis configuration encompasses the group of settings that determine how the rotation of the TCP around its Z axis is handled during an operation. At any given point of an operation, the TCP can theoretically be rotated any of the 360 degrees around its Z axis (ignoring kinematic constraints and collisions). Axis configuration is used to establish a “rule” to follow for an operation.
Navigation
Axis configuration is accessible through the operation level settings on the device side of Robotmaster.
Calculation Methods
Spherical Interpolation
This calculation method is defined by a spherical shape, covering all possible Z vectors of the TCP.
There are 2 spherical interpolation settings that establish how the tool orientation behaves in relation to the sphere.
Type
Type determines how the TCP orientation changes around the sphere.
Default Z rotation
Default no Z rotation
Orientation
Orientation determines the orientation of the “origin” of the sphere.
Top
Front
Side
Combined effect
Type and orientation combine to fully constrain how the TCP rotation behaves. Imagine a tool tip at the center of the sphere. As the tool is reoriented around that point, the X and Y axis of the tool will adjust based on the type and orientation settings.
Example
The easiest way to demonstrate the effect of these settings is with actual operations programmed on a part.
In this example, the orientation is set to Top.
Default Z rotation
Default no Z rotation
Default Z rotation (with Top orientation), when close to the top of the sphere, results in minimal movement always keeping X and Y in the same planar direction as the top of the sphere. Default no Z rotation always keeps the X axis pointed “down” the outside surface of the sphere. This causes extra robot wrist rotation when the TCP is close to the top of the sphere.
Default Z rotation
Default no Z rotation
Default Z rotation (with Top orientation), when at the sides of the sphere, results in extra robot wrist rotation. Default no Z rotation results in minimal movement, keeping the X axis pointed “down” the outside surface of the sphere.
When using different orientations (Front or Side), the TCP rotation behavior will be the same, however the “origin” of that behavior will be different.
Tool orientation
The last setting for Spherical interpolation is Tool orientation. This value provides a rotational offset to the TCP rotation on the sphere.
The crosshair symbol scans all possible tool orientations for all points of an operation to determine if there are any values that allow the operation to have no kinematic issues.
A ring appears around the TCP with red and green sections. The arrow can be clicked and moved to adjust the Tool orientation.
The new Tool orientation can be accepted or cancelled with the check or X buttons.
