Robot Reach & Motion Simulator

Use this browser-based robot simulator to estimate work envelope, target reachability, base height impact, and simple robot positioning in a 3D viewer.

This is intended as a practical planning tool for automation engineers, not a replacement for OEM robot simulation software.

Important: This simulator is a simplified engineering visualizer. It does not replace OEM kinematics, controller validation, interference studies, payload review, or safety review. Use it for early layout and feasibility checks.

What This Simulator Does

This page uses a simplified articulated arm model with base rotation, an upper arm, a forearm, and a tool center point offset. It helps you visualize whether a target point is generally reachable and how changes in base height, arm length, target position, and tool offset affect the work envelope.

Use it early in a robot layout project when you are comparing rough mounting position, target reachability, fixture height, and general work envelope before going deeper into full robot simulation.

Visual Reach Check

Drag or enter a target point and see whether the simplified arm can reach it.

Base Height Review

Change the robot base height to see how pedestal height affects vertical access.

Arm Length Comparison

Use compact, mid-size, or long-reach presets to compare rough robot sizing direction.

Fixture Planning

Adjust fixture dimensions to visualize target location and basic cell layout.

Recommended Robot Layout Workflow

Treat this simulator as a concept screen. It is useful before full simulation, but final robot selection still needs manufacturer data, payload review, interference checks, and safety validation.

  1. Set the robot preset: start with compact, mid-size, or long-reach to compare rough robot sizes.
  2. Set base height: adjust pedestal or mounting height to check vertical access.
  3. Enter or drag the target: position the target at the approximate pick, place, process, or fixture point.
  4. Review reach status: use the reach status, radial distance, vertical offset, and max reach outputs.
  5. Compare with calculators: check reach, payload, and cycle time with the related tools.
  6. Validate in real simulation: final checks should include OEM software, joint limits, singularities, collisions, EOAT, and safety.

Simulator Inputs

Robot Setup

Presets update the two main arm segments for a quick starting point.
Used as a simple extension beyond the second arm segment.

Target Position

Animation & Scene

Higher values move faster.

Recommended Use

  • Layout feasibility checks
  • Base-height comparison
  • Approximate work envelope review
  • Quick visual reach validation
3D Robot Viewer
Drag the red target in 3D. Left mouse = orbit, right mouse = pan, wheel = zoom.
Reach Status
Checking...
Radial Distance
0 in
Vertical Offset
0 in
Approx. Max Reach
0 in

How This Simulator Works

This simulator treats the robot as a simplified articulated arm. The target is treated as the tool center point location, and the model estimates a basic inverse kinematic pose using the upper arm length, forearm length, base height, and tool offset.

The red target can be moved with the 3D transform control. You can also type target coordinates directly, apply them, and animate the robot toward the target.

Apply Inputs

Uses the typed target position and updates the robot pose and fixture display.

Read Dragged Target

Copies the dragged target location back into the input fields.

Animate Move

Moves the simplified arm toward the target pose instead of snapping instantly.

Reset View

Resets the camera view without changing the robot or target inputs.

What to Check After the Simulator

A target can appear reachable in a simplified model and still fail in a real robot cell. Real applications depend on posture, wrist limits, EOAT size, part geometry, cable routing, guarding, fixtures, and process approach angle.

Joint Limits

Real robots have axis limits. A simplified arm may show reach even when the actual robot cannot hold that posture.

Wrist Orientation

Processes like welding, dispensing, machine tending, and inspection often require a specific tool angle.

EOAT and Payload

Tool length, center of gravity, gripper weight, weld gun weight, and inertia can reduce practical capability.

Interference

Check the robot body, tool, part, fixture, guarding, dress pack, cables, hoses, and clearance moves.

Cycle Time

A robot may reach the point but still fail production requirements if the move path or process time is too slow.

Safety Review

Simulation does not replace guarding, safety distance, risk assessment, teach mode, or safe stop validation.

Continue the Robot Cell Design

Use this simulator with the related calculators to move from rough visual feasibility into a better robot concept. Reach, payload, cycle time, pneumatics, servo sizing, and ROI all matter when selecting and justifying a robotic cell.

Need help validating a real robot application?

If you are laying out a real robotic cell, checking targets, comparing robots, or reviewing automation options, use this as a starting point and then get help applying it to an actual project.

Get Help With My Robot Application