NovPlan Software

New Features

• Add support for CRobotP and Elite Robots.
• Allow workcells to be self-signed and modified by entitled users, and improve integration between Weld and Cell Editor for managing installed workcells.
• Improve start page and show autosaves there.
• Warn when code generation license is expiring within 30 days.
• Prompt for participation in Verbotics Weld improvement program.
• Improve weld joint type identification, particularly for small features (e.g. small plugs) or changing welds.
• Add automatic tags based on weld geometry.
• Make start/end points of circular/loop welds consistent (placed to maximise X, Y, Z position).
• Improve split/trim using torch geometry, and keep manual toolpath edits when possible.
• Add zig-zag option when sorting welds by axis or positioner value.
• Add generate program, enable/disable welds and bulk rename welds macros.
• Allow “Define User Frame” to move user frame as well as setting origin.
• Add option to limit workpiece positioner values to steps.
• Add optimal rotation around wire setting.
• Automatically solve toolpath “wraps” rather than requiring manual edits.
• Improve surface toolpath behaviour on curved geometry.
• Only clear relevant welds when changing TCPs and program options.
• Give better feedback on why states and toolpaths aren’t valid, and automatically show bodies in collision.
• Improve calculation of sensing positions, including touch senses, and allow sensing with different robot configurations.
• Improve 2D laser search functionality, usability and behaviour, including looking up to sense distance along straight weld sections.
• Add 1D laser search option to disable searching edges.

Bug Fixes

• Improve sensing, planning and toolpath smoothing on curved parts and complex 3D welds.
• Fix collision and laser search detection for parts with very large transforms.
• Properly respect user-set positioner joint limits.
• Fix issues with linear to circular toolpath conversions.
• Fix memory overflow loading very large projects.
• Several bug fixes to weld identification, and other bug fixes and improvements.

Generator Changes

• Add utility functions and expose additional data (e.g. joint type, group, weld parts) to generators.

• ABB

  • Add support for mastering and for 10 or 14 element arcdata on Omnicore.
  • Add option to create all code in a single procedure.
  • Add seam name to ArcL, and remove whitespace to improve teach pendant editing.
  • Fix incorrect search direction with moved user frames.

• FANUC

  • Support not returning home to change tools, and fix tool changes in multi-robot multi-tool workcells.
  • Fix MP Offset End not being output, and tracking being output on passes with settings changes.
  • Reset UTOOL_NUM after clean torch in case it is changed in VBCLEANTORCH.

• OTC

  • Several improvements and support for additional search commands.

• Universal Robots

  • Add support for move robot positioner action, and don’t require the flange to be included in the kinematic group.

• Yaskawa Motoman

  • Add support for mastering.
  • Fix VBAFTERSEARCH not being output when no positioner present.
  • Fix incorrect return variable for multi-robot systems where both robots have 2D laser sensors.

New Features

• Cell Editor 1.0 is a major upgrade that rebuilds workcell editing around components: robots, tools, stations and positioners.