BRING YOUR PROJECTS FROM CONCEPT TO REALITY WITH VISUAL COMPONENTS' MANUFACTURING SIMULATION

Digital transformation starts with manufacturing simulation and progresses through the creation and use of a digital twin to a situation where virtual commissioning is not just possible but part-and-parcel of everyday life.

The recent acquisition of Delfoi Robotics, experts in offline robot programming, puts Visual Components in the driving seat when it comes to seeing through a true digital transformation.

Simulation, Twins and Virtual Commissioning
Visual Components software lets manufacturers model parts of existing or proposed production processes. It will show whether a layout or equipment arrangement will work and what problems to expect. Feed this model with a production schedule, and it reveals information such as the output rate to be expected and locations of bottlenecks. A digital twin advances this by linking the digital model with the real-world environment.

Simulation and a digital twin enable virtual commissioning in the case of new production machines, systems or lines. This is where the twin accelerates the construction and integration of the new hardware. Two areas where this is done are PLC programming and offline robot programming.

The Concept-to-Reality-Workflow
Manufacturing simulation, digital twins and virtual commissioning are steps on the digital transformation journey. The concept-to-reality workflow will reveal how a manufacturer will put it all together.

Whether building new systems or improving those already in place, a business setting out on a digital transformation journey today will go through four phases:
 

2. Simulation and Analysis
Having built a model, repeated runs with varying input conditions reveal the most likely outcomes and highlight improvement opportunities. The model is adjusted and used for further feasibility studies, with this iterative process continuing until a solution is reached that delivers the required performance.

3. Virtual Commissioning
As detail design and physical construction get underway, the digital twin emerges from the simulation model. This documents the exact layout and configuration of the new hardware, and links between twin and real-world ensure the two stay ‘synced”. Now virtual commissioning can begin.

4. Execution
Now programs are transferred to the physical system. While some prove-out is still needed as a safeguard against collisions and to ensure safety, there’s no need for extensive code writing: it’s all been done in parallel with the physical build.

The process above yields two dramatic improvements over the historical ways of carrying out such a project. First, the project is completed in far less time. Second, the final result is much closer to the original design intent.

The Visual Components – Delfoi Story: From Concept to Reality




Visual Components is not a robot programming company. That gap has now been filled, though, with the acquisition of Delfoi Robotics. Delfoi produces offline programming software for robots. In addition to general purpose, brand-agnostic tools, and modules address the specific needs and challenges of tasks often performed by robots, like painting, cutting and arc and spot welding.

With Delfoi, Visual Components can now support manufacturers through the process of bringing concepts to reality.



From Concepts to Execution
In recent years, as Visual Components has embarked on the digital transformation of Industry 4.0, it has expanded to support and facilitate digital twin creation and virtual commissioning. Now, as Delfoi Robotics joins the Visual Components team, there’s an opportunity to take your projects from concept to reality.

www.visualcomponents.com