The concept design is the most important document of a project: it settles the cell layout, the robot type, the fixturing principle and the safety concept. For us it takes five working days — here is how.
Days 1–2: capturing the inputs
CAD model or sample part, quantity, takt time, material grade, weld requirements. If no CAD exists, we scan the workpiece on site.
Days 3–4: layout and reachability
In RobotStudio or Roboguide we build the digital model of the cell: robot, positioner, fixture, torch geometry. The reachability analysis reveals the critical seams here — they decide the degrees of freedom the positioner needs.
Day 5: presentation
The concept design arrives with visualisation, an estimated cycle time and a budget quotation. From here the detailed simulation or the trial day can start.
The typical pitfall? Underestimating fixturing. A robot repeats to a tenth of a millimetre — if the part moves half a millimetre in the fixture, the weld pays for it.