FormCut? Shape Generation Software

Robotic Cutting Applications like waterjet, router, laser, and plasma can be very difficult applications because the complexity of path programming. This becomes more apparent when you need to program multiple, accurate shapes like circles, slots, ellipses, squares and more.

Below is a good example. Traditional point to point programming would require one MOVL (linear) point and three MOVC (circle) points for each of these holes. This would be a total of 48 programmed points.

FormCut? software by Yaskawa Motoman makes programming these shapes easy. The example above would require 12 programmed points instead of 48.

Built into the teach pendant, it is easy to use without having to leave the job or program you are in. Move the robot to the center of the shape and record that point. Select Device > Formcut from the Inform List. Enter the radius, cutting speed, and other options like overlap, angle, etc and then press enter. You can do this same process for other shapes including Slots, Squares, Ellipses, and more.

The robot will start in the center, move out to the edge and make the desired shape. For router cutting systems, there is also an option for cutting clockwise or counterclockwise.

This software is extremely useful and helps our customers be more efficient with this type of programming.

Alliance Automation is robot integrator specializing in waterjet, router and other cutting applications.

Have a robotic cutting application? Contact us for more information.