Once the robot has been calibrated, we usually need RoboDK to filter programs, therefore, a RoboDK license is required (a basic OLP license is enough for generating accurate robot programs once the robot has been calibrated). Filtering a program means that the targets in a program are altered/optimized to improve the accuracy of the robot, taking into account all the calibration parameters (about 30 parameters).

Alternatively, we can calibrate only the joint offsets plus the base and tool reference frames (4 joint offset parameters plus 6 parameters for the base frame plus 6 parameters for the tool frame). The calibration will not be as accurate as if we used the default complete calibration but it might allow entering certain parameters in the robot controller and not depend on RoboDK to generate robot programs.

To obtain the calibration only for the joint offsets we must select theCalib. Param.button, then theMasteringbutton (inside the robot calibration menu).

A new window will appear after we select Make mastering program. In this window we can select what axes we want to consider creating the new home position.

The buttonMake mastering programwill appear in the robot calibration window. Select this button to generate a program that will bring the robot to the new home position. Transfer it to the robot and execute it, then, the new home position must be recorded.

If the robot and the PC are connected, we can right click the program and selectSend Program to Robotto automatically send the program to the robot. Otherwise, we can selectGenerate robot programto see new joint values for the home position.

As an example, we must follow the next steps to update home position for Motoman robots.

We must first run the program “MASTERING” to bring the robot to the new home position.

Once the program is in the controller we must log in as “Management mode” (password for Motoman robots is usually 99999999) and we need to be in Teach mode. The following images show the steps that must be followed.

Make sure to update the home position for all robot joints.

Once the home position is set, we must delete the robot program that brought the robot to the new home position.