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Product category: Data acquisition software and systems
News Release from: Delmia | Subject: UltraPaint robotic simulation, off-line program
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial Team on 24 December 2003

Simulation improves robotic off-line
programming

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Manufacture of quality bumper systems has optimized paint cells and reduced set-up time by using a robotic simulation and off-line programming package.

Delmia Corp., a Dassault Systemes company has announced that Flex-N-Gate, a world leader in the manufacture of quality bumper systems, has optimized the paint cells at its Peterborough, Ontario factory using Delmia's UltraPaint robotic simulation and off-line programming package Delmia UltraPaint was implemented at this facility to perform off-line programming to reduce setup time for a bumper paint line consisting of twenty ABB robots located in five paint booths

In the first booth, the robots spray an adhesion promoter on the plastic parts.

In booths two and three, base coats are applied.

Booths four and five are final color coats.

"We selected UltraPaint to help us avoid overtime and weekends needed to manually teach the robots," said Murray Fulmer, Corporate Paint/Simulation Specialist, Flex-N-Gate.

"But, it also provided us the ability to use CAD data created in the design phase to help us develop the necessary paint fixtures and robot programs months in advance, rather than having to bring actual parts to the booth.

Without UltraPaint, we would have to wait for physical parts in order to begin the process of developing a proper paint process.

"In addition, you often spend months tweaking the program and trying to make it more efficient," continued Fulmer.

"UltraPaint lets you go right to the floor knowing that the line is going to perform properly, thus saving valuable setup time." Before full deployment of the UltraPaint solution, the company decided to prove out the software on an existing program.

The company uploaded a program into UltraPaint and then played it back to make sure it looked the same as it did in real life.

The program was then downloaded back to the controller to make sure it was accepted and did not crash the robot.

"We took the same program, uploaded it and modified it with very visible changes to see if the real life translation matched the simulation," said Fulmer.

"The results were picture perfect, giving us full confidence to simulate the entire line." Flex-N-Gate has also discovered that the 3D visual of the simulation serves as a sales tool.

"It gives our customers added confidence," said Fulmer.

"We can now show our customers their part being processed in our paint lines within the required parameters, all before the parts are finished in the final design phase." The next step for Flex-N-Gate is corporate-wide integration of UltraPaint at the organization's six paint facilities.

"We're only in the infancy in terms of benefits gained by the Delmia UltraPaint solution," says Fulmer.

"But, we're already saving time, increasing the accuracy of our programs and gaining the customer's confidence in the process.

It is a win-win situation for everyone involved." About Flex-N-Gate - Flex-N-Gate is a leading automobile parts manufacturer with 38 Manufacturing Plants in six countries, that offers Multiple Processes for a Diverse Range of Materials.

We have Integrated Manufacturing Facilities giving our Clients a superior product manufactured "Under One Roof".

By having control at all steps of the process gives our Clients: Improved Quality, Improved Efficiency, Improved Cost, and Improved Control.

Information about Flex-N-Gate is available at http://www.flex-n-gate.com About Delmia - Delmia Corp.

is the leading provider of lean digital manufacturing solutions, focused mainly on software that can be used to streamline manufacturing processes.

Delmia serves industries where the optimization of manufacturing processes is critical, including automotive, aerospace, fabrication and assembly, electrical and electronics, consumer goods, plant, and shipbuilding sectors.

About Dassault Systemes - as world leader in PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) solutions, the Dassault Systemes group brings value to more than 65,000 customers in 80 countries.

A pioneer in the 3D software market since 1981, Dassault Systemes develops and markets PLM application software and services that support industrial processes and provide a 3D vision of the entire life cycle of products from conception to maintenance.

Its offering includes integrated PLM solutions for product development (CATIAR, DELMIAT, ENOVIAR, SMARTEAMR), mainstream product design tools (SolidWorksR), and 3D components (ACISR) from Spatial Corp.

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