Performing a Welding "Dry Run"

What is a "Dry Run" And When to Use?

"Dry Run", sometimes called "Check Run" is a feature that allows users to run a welding job in PLAY mode without the energizing the arc. This function is distinguished from {TEST START} due to allowing the user to run the robot in PLAY instead of TEACH and the robot will run at the full taught speed. This function permits users to run the robot at full speed utilizing all functions like weaving without worrying about the arc.

This can be useful for confirming the robot path prior to performing any welding.

How to Enable and Disable?

There are two different methods of accessing the "Dry Run" capability. The easiest is to utilize the controls built into Weld Builder. However, this function can also be accessed with any job, regardless of if Weld Builder is being utilized.

Using Weld Builder

1. When using the Weld Editor, be sure to first Build & Save the active job.
2. Place the robot controller into PLAY mode.
3. Open the TEST/RUN JOB panel in Weld Builder by using the green button at the bottom of the Weld Editor.
   
4. Enable or disable the "Dry Run" toggle switch. (Yellow means enabled)
   
5. Run the desired job.

Using Smart Pendant

It may be necessary to use the controls built into the default Smart Pendant interface to disable this "Dry Run" behavior. As this default control, described below, will take precedence over the control available within Weld Builder.

1. If Weld Builder was in use, please be sure to first Build the active job.
2. Close Weld Builder to view the full Smart Pendant panel.
3. Place the robot controller into PLAY mode.
4. Select the job to run, if not already done so.
5. Open the TEST/RUN JOB panel using the "TEST/RUN JOB" button in the lower right corner of the Job Edit screen.
   
6. Open The Advanced Run panel using the button in the upper left of the "run panel".
   
7. Within the "Advanced Run" panel, enable or disable the Prohibit Work Instruction.
   
   Weaving instructions can also be disabled in this panel.
8. Reopen Weld Builder to continue modifications or run any existing job from the standard Job Edit screen.