One company, Multiply Labs, has created a system to overcome these challenges by using robots and RoboDK Software.

Using Multiply Labs’ innovative approach, automated cell therapy manufacturing has the potential to significantly reduce costs while ensuring statistically equivalent outcomes to manual processes in terms of cell yields, viability, and phenotype.

This new system could bring about a new era of producing this type of therapy, surpassing the previous time-consuming manual processes, and ultimately, supporting the scalability of cell therapies for patients in need.

Let’s look at how they used RoboDK to create the system.

What Is Cell Therapy Manufacturing

Cell therapy involves growing cells in a controlled environment. These are then placed into the body to replace damaged or diseased cells or modulate the function of the patient’s cells. This therapy is at the forefront of biomedical innovation, being used to treat cancer, autoimmune conditions, and various others.

The challenge with this type of manufacturing is the need to maintain strict purity, potency, and safety throughout the complex multi-stage production process. This involves cultivation of the cells, multiplication, and processing in a controlled environment.

Some of the unique challenges of cell therapy manufacturing include:

• High complexity of both materials and process.
• Tracking and testing of cell activity and safety.
• Need for customization with patient-specific manufacturing.
• Logistical challenges involved in handling live cells.
• Scaling these biological processes to be accessible.

The promises of cell therapy are huge… but only with a reliable process for producing the cells.

Introducing Multiply Labs…

This is where Multiply Labs comes in. The company originates from a shared passion for robotics among its founders, who met at MIT.

Based in San Francisco, California, Multiply Labs specializes in developing industry-leading automated manufacturing systems to produce individualized drugs. The team combines a unique blend of mechanical and electrical engineering, software development, and pharmaceutical science.

The company believes that robotics and automation have great potential for improving patient accessibility and unlocking the scalability of these cell therapy treatments. They aim to create flexible robotic systems that are compatible with the market-leading pharmaceutical manufacturing instruments, so that manufacturers do not need to significantly change their existing processes.

Their systems are modular and can operate in parallel. This allows them to achieve high throughput, as scalability is a core concern for many pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Fred Parietti, CEO and Co-Founder says:

At Multiply Labs, we are actively developing a cell therapy robotic system, which can operate market-leading GMP instruments already widely deployed for cell therapy manufacturing. This is part of our ongoing, company-wide quest to pioneer a fully automated, end-to-end process for cell therapy manufacturing. To bring this vision to life during the development process, we use renders to showcase what we’re building.

The Robotic System for Personalized T-Cells

One of the company’s latest developments is a robotic system for cell therapy manufacturing. The company recently released a peer reviewed study showing that a robotic cell expansion process can match the performance, and reduce the cost of a manual process. 

The system leverages robotic modules, automating market-leading instruments currently leveraged for cell therapy manufacturing. Manufacturers have the flexibility to combine and mix and match robotic modules to best match their process, and they can drive high throughput via multiple parallel modules. 

Multiply Labs tested the robotic system against a comparable manual process. They found that the results were statistically indistinguishable.

Fred Parietti, the company’s co-founder and CEO, says:

We are so excited by this initial data as it opens the door to accelerating the availability of cell therapies. This data demonstrates that manufacturers can confidently automate their existing processes for cell expansion, without making significant modifications to the process itself, effectively minimizing bioprocess and regulatory risks.

With more automation, the labor cost of cell therapy manufacturing can be lowered enough to make cell therapies accessible to many more people.

The Role of RoboDK

RoboDK was a key part of creating the company’s modular robotic system. The team used it for early research, simulation creation, debugging, rendering, and various other stages of their development.

A unique aspect of how the team used RoboDK was in their rendering of the simulations, to demonstrate what Multiply Labs is trying to achieve before the physical prototype was ready.

Xiaojie Chen, robotics engineer at Multiply Labs, says:

We started using RoboDK in March 2023 and found it’s an excellent solution to help the team. The RoboDK team also rapidly solved the bugs we saw during the beta, so we are one of the first teams to use this function. The entire project was done incredibly fast, with several team members working closely.

5 Key Ways Multiply Labs Used RoboDK

RoboDK was instrumental in the team’s achievement at various stages of their development.

Here are 5 key ways the team used RoboDK:

• Early Research and Collision Prevention — The team first used RoboDK to conduct early research tests and ensure that there were no collisions between components.
• Creating Accurate Simulations — RoboDK’s ability to simulate very accurate motions was a critical factor to Multiply Labs using it.
• Rendering and Blender Export — The team wanted to create high-quality visual renderings of their simulations to demonstrate the prototype. For this, they created the models in CAD, ran the simulations in RoboDK, then exported into Blender using an Add-in for further rendering.
• Rapid Response to Feedback — One benefit to using RoboDK is that it allows smooth passing of models with other software packages. Its Blender Export function, for example, allowed the team to save a lot of time and get rapid feedback from the team.
• Education and Efficiency — The ease of learning was an essential aspect to Multiply Lab’s adoption of RoboDK. It allowed their engineers to focus on engineering rather than learning new software

Changing Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Multiply Labs is passionate not only about robotics, but about creating a future where manufacturing of life-saving cell therapies is accessible, efficient, and reliable.

Currently, the development and manufacturing of cell therapies are exorbitantly expensive, hindering broad access to life-saving treatments. In fact, as much as 50% of manufacturing costs stem from labor-intensive manual processes and a lack of skilled workers. By employing Multiply Labs’ innovative approach, automated cell therapy manufacturing has the potential to significantly reduce costs while driving increased scalability.

What questions do you have about this? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum.. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel

The post Transforming Cell Therapy Manufacturing: The Power of Robotics at Multiply Labs appeared first on RoboDK blog.

We are now firmly within the age of automation. As a result, the question of robotic vs manual welding is now on the debating table more clearly than ever before.

Which reigns supreme? Robots or human welders?

On one side of the table we have manual welding. The tried and tested method of welding, backed by decades of precedence and the skill and intuition of seasoned craftspeople.

On the other side of the table, we have robotic welding. The newest contender for best welding method. It boasts precision, productivity, and relentless consistency.

Let’s settle this debate once and for all…

Which welding method comes on top?

The 7 Debate Categories to Spark Discussion

As manufacturers, welding is a crucial aspect of many production processes. It can play a major role in determining the quality of your products.

When you look at your process, which categories can you use to compare manual welding with robotic welding?

Here are 7 categories that we’ll be using to compare the two methods:

1. Speed and Efficiency — The speed and efficiency of a welding method determines how productive your welding process can be. It is a crucial category in the debate.
2. Weld Quality — The quality of your welds influences both customer satisfaction and product reliability.
3. Flexibility — The ability to adapt to different projects quickly is important in a dynamic manufacturing environment.
4. Cost — As a significant factor in all business decisions, cost considerations include not only the initial expense but ongoing running costs.
5. Risks — Every production method carries risks, both physical and non-physical. From worker injury to cost of inaction, various risks affect welding.
6. Detail and Precision — It’s important to discuss the level of detail each method can achieve, particularly for products requiring fine details.
7. Problem Detection — Each method will have a different level of ability at detecting and resolving problems. Faster detection means fewer delays in production.

In the debate points below, we will draw from these 7 categories to compare manual and robotic welding.

Manual Welding: Traditional, Reliable and Adaptable

In the arena of welding techniques, manual welding holds its ground as a traditional, reliable, and highly adaptable method.

Let’s start the debate with manual welding’s biggest strength: flexibility.

For flexibility, manual welding certainly outperforms its robotic counterpart. Human welders can seamlessly shift between projects without the need for extensive reconfiguration. This makes manual welding particularly suited to custom orders and one-off jobs.

Humans are adaptable. This is also why manual welding can be better at problem detection. Adapting a robot requires the input of humans.

The cost of manual welding can also be quite low, particularly the upfront cost. Unless you have to hire new welding professionals — which can be costly and difficult given the skills shortage — manual welding is a process that has familiar costs.

It’s true that there are some disadvantages to manual welding. Increased risk of worker injury is certainly something to consider, as well as lower precision and an inconsistent weld quality.

However, manual welding truly excels for custom, artisan welding jobs that would require extensive programming to do with a robot.

Robotic Welding: Efficient, Precise and Consistent

Robotic welding is the “new kid on the block” — the welding method that is set to become a core part of any welding process. It is a force to be reckoned with in the world of manufacturing.

We can’t talk about robotic welding without mentioning its consistency. Robots are extremely consistent, producing the same high-quality welds time and time again. With this consistency comes faster, more precise welds, and a lower cost per weld over the long term.

While robots tend to be less effective at detecting problems on-the-fly than humans, they are also less likely to make errors as they are not subject to tiredness. Robots also don’t need breaks, so can be hugely more productive than manual welding.

It’s true that robots are less flexible than humans. However, this is why robotic welding is so well suited to routine, higher-volume welding tasks.

Using robots for welding also reduces the potential physical risks, as the human worker is no longer operating dangerous welding machinery. This helps to make the workplace a safer environment for all.

The Verdict: Which Welding Method Strikes the Hottest Iron?

The debate points have been made… so which method is best? Manual welding or robotic welding?

Let’s look at each of our 7 debate categories:

1. Speed and Efficiency — Robotic welding has the upper hand with a quicker work rate and higher output. However, this is less valuable on low-volume, custom jobs.
2. Weld Quality — Robots are a clear winner with consistent high-quality welds.
3. Flexibility — Manual welding wins in this category. Human workers can easily shift between projects without reconfiguration.
4. Cost — Let’s call this one a draw. There are many factors that affect the cost of the welding method, including labor costs, machine maintenance costs, and the varying upfront costs of robotic hardware.
5. Risks — There are risks with both methods. However, with robotic welding, the physical safety risks are significantly reduced compared to manual welding.
6. Detail and Precision — Robots tend to be more consistently precise than humans, so robot welding is a strong contender. But, for artisan-type detail, manual welding is usually the better option.
7. Problem Detection — Humans are often better at detecting and responding quickly to problems… however, they are also likely to make more mistakes than robotic welding.

The conclusion? While manual welding offers more flexibility and problem detection, these don’t fully offset the advantages offered by robotic welding.

Which Method Should You Choose?

Ultimately, the decision between manual and robotic welding comes down to your specific manufacturing needs.

If you are producing one-off, custom welds that require artisan levels of skill, manual welding will certainly be your best bet. But, if you have more consistent welding needs, robotic welding is surely a top contender.

As with many business decisions, there is no definitive answer to the debate of robot welding vs manual welding.

But, you can make your robot programming easy by using RoboDK and our Welding Add-in.

Which welding methods do you use in your business? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum.. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel

The post The Heated Debate: Robot Welding vs Manual Welding? appeared first on RoboDK blog.

FANUC is one of “The Big 4” robotics companies in the world. Catering to a wide array of industries, these Japanese-made robots are known for their adaptability, power, and ubiquitousness.

The company’s influence is far-reaching, with a notable 15% share of the Chinese industrial robot market. They are dedicated to growing the capabilities of robotic systems, investing in technologies like robotic machine learning and cloud robotics.

In this spotlight on FANUC, we’ll look at how you can program FANUC robots easily for your chosen application.

The FANUC Story: What Sets FANUC Robots Apart

Founded in Japan in 1956 by Dr. Seiuemon Inaba, FANUC has grown to become a global leader in factory automation.

The company started by producing servo motors and computer numerical control (CNC) systems. Throughout his long career, Dr. Inaba receive many honors for his pioneering achievements in creating CNC tools and factory automation.

As one of the few companies in the industry to develop and manufacture all its major components in house, FANUC robots are known for their reliability, predictability, and ease of repair. Customers benefit from lifetime product support for as long as they use their FANUC products in production.

What Industries are FANUC Robots Used In?

FANUC robots are a common sight in many industries, showing the versatility and range of their products.

The automotive manufacturing industry is a notable industry, where FANUC robots help to streamline assembly lines, improve quality control, and increase productivity. It also remains a worldwide leader in automation for CNC control systems, with solutions like its ROBODRILL and ROBOCUT.

Other industries where FANUC robots are common include electronics manufacturing, food manufacturing, and the pharmaceutical industry.

In 2021, FANUC cemented its place as a worldwide leader in robotics when it celebrated the production of its 750,000th robot.

3 Example Applications for KUKA Robots

There are FANUC robots available for almost any almost every application you can think of.

Here are 3 example applications from different industries that people are already achieving with FANUC robots:

1. Complex CNC Machining

With the company’s long history in CNC solutions, it’s unsurprising that FANUC robots are now involved CNC machining.

Robot machining is an ideal application for robots, helping you to machine intricate shapes that would be impossible with conventional CNC tools. With FANUC robots, you can achieve precise tolerances even to the nanometer level.

2. Painting Solutions

FANUC claims to offer the largest selection of painting robots in the robotics industry.

Robot painting is a hazardous task, requiring special explosion-proof robots that can handle the complex task of painting. By using a robot to paint, you can achieve a more consistent paint application, reduce waste, and increase your uptime for painting operations.

3. Laser Cutting

FANUC is pioneering in the industry with their application of laser cutting using robots. These involve using a robot to operate a laser cutting tool.

Models like the versatile six-axis FANUC M-20iB/25 robot and the 0i-LF Plus offer high cutting performance in a simple to use system.

Options for Programming FANUC Robots

Whatever application you choose for your FANUC robot, it’s important to find a method of programming that helps you to deploy the robot easily and efficiently.

There are 3 main options for programming a FANUC robot:

1. Brand Programming Langauges: Karel and TP— the primary language for programming is called Karel, a Pascal-derived programming language that requires a high level of robotics expertise. There is also TP, the language that is used in FANUC teach pendants.
2. Teach Pendant — Possibly the most common method for programming FANUC robots is to “jog” the robot using the teach pendant. This time-consuming approach involves manually guiding the robot through movements. As well as being complex to program, it also takes a lot of work to make changes.
3. RoboDK — For a more intuitive and graphical approach to programming, supported by a powerful API if you need it, you can also program your KUKA robots offline using RoboDK.

With RoboDK, you program FANUC robots even without the physical robot present. You just load your chosen FANUC model from the integrated robot library. This streamlines the programming process and reduces unnecessary downtime.

Spotlight on 3 Models in the RoboDK Library

The RoboDK robot library includes an extensive collection of FANUC robots models.

At the time of writing, it includes over 100 FANUC models of various types, including 5 and 6 DoF arms, Delta, SCARA, and palletizing robots, as well as hexapod robots.

Here are 3 models that you can find in the library:

Robot 1: FANUC LR Mate 100iB

The LR Mate 100iBz is a compact tabletop 5-axis robot that is often used for material handling tasks. It offers a 5 kg payload, 620 mm of reach, and a repeatability of 0.04 mm.

LR Mate robots come in various models, for specific target application areas. This includes food and beverage, clean room, and washproof versions.

Robot 2: FANUC SR-12iA

The SR-12iA is a 4-axis SCARA robot arm used in assembly and material handling applications. It has a 12 kg payload, 900 mm of reach, and repeatability of 0.015 mm.

This model offers high wrist inertia of up to 0.45 kgm2. This makes it particularly suitable for some assembly applications, such as battery and solar panel installations. It also comes in a 20 kg payload version.

Robot 3: Fanuc F-200iB

The F-200iB is a 6 Degrees of Freedom hexapod platform. It can handle payloads of up to 100 kg, offers 437 mm of reach and has a repeatability of 0.1 mm.

This platform is a parallel link robot and is designed for a range of manufacturing and automotive assembly processes.

How to Program FANUC Robots Easily with RoboDK

If you want to streamline the deployment process for your FANUC industrial robot, it’s worth looking at using RoboDK for your programming.

RoboDK’s rich simulation environment makes it easy to quickly design robot programs and test them before you put the robot into production. The intuitive graphical interface allows you to quickly create robust programs while the API allows you to incorporate any advanced features you want.

To get started, download a trial copy of RoboDK from our download page and load up your favorite robot model.

Which FANUC model do you use and for which applications? Join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum.. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel

The post Spotlight on… FANUC: How to Program FANUC Robots Easily appeared first on RoboDK blog.

Robot simulation software company, RoboDK, recognized the need for a more compact and versatile solution that doesn’t rely on conventional computers. Following customer demand for such a product, they created TwinBox. This self-contained system offers a full suite of features that enable users to easily set up and manage robotic systems in their workspaces using a simple single-board computer or IPC.

TwinBox can be easily controlled through a web browser, allowing you to trigger actions remotely and have a 3D view of your cell.

Dmitry Lavygin, software developer at RoboDK, says:

RoboDK is already able to run programs directly on real robots using its online mode and robot drivers. However, it is not common to see desktop or laptop computers in production environments.

The goal with TwinBox is to provide a dedicated version of RoboDK for industrial computers and enable remote control on embedded devices, without the need of a local display, keyboard, or mouse. You can simply control the system remotely from anywhere, using your browser or another remote RoboDK connection.

The need to minimize clutter and save space with production robots

The team at RoboDK conceived TwinBox after identifying a gap in the market – there were no space-efficient solutions for production engineers wishing to directly implement RoboDK into the production line. The product’s compact size offers the advantage of easy positioning – it can be installed either next to or within the factory robot’s control system.

A key feature of the TwinBox is its ability to function effectively without the need for a mouse, keyboard, and monitor. It solely requires network interfaces to seamlessly connect to an internal network and a robot control system.

This allows users to save more of their valuable floor space while still being able to utilize the full suite of features that RoboDK has to offer.

TwinBox is an all-in-one solution for robot programming and automation engineers, with many benefits including its compact size, low cost, easy setup, and versatility.

Remote robot programming built on reliable technologies

RoboDK’s approach to product development is to build new solutions on the back of tried and tested technologies, where possible. This means the company can deliver high-quality remote robot programming solutions without compromising on reliability or stability.

With TwinBox, RoboDK has crafted a reliable system that runs on both industrial and consumer-grade hardware. It supports multiple operating systems and hardware architectures, including Windows and Linux Debian or Ubuntu running on Intel x86-64 platforms or ARM. RoboDK provides dedicated builds for systems such as the Nvidia Jetson or Raspberry Pi-based industrial computers.

Samuel Bertrand, software developer lead at RoboDK, says:

The software works just like the Desktop version of RoboDK. The main difference is that the system can be controlled remotely from any browser.

With its remote interface, users can also access their TwinBox from anywhere in the world, with full control of all connected external robots, devices, and sensors. This allows users to monitor their robots remotely, in real-time, giving them more flexibility and control over their automation than ever before.

Streamlining Multiple Devices into One Cohesive System

A common challenge with industrial robots is that each programming solution is often limited to a single manufacturer. This means that each robot brand needs to be programmed separately, which slows down deployment.

With TwinBox, users can connect multiple robots from different manufacturers together into one cohesive system. This increases flexibility and significantly speeds up the integration process.

RoboDK supports over 900 robot models from over 50 brands. This wide compatibility means that users can be sure that their TwinBox will work with almost any robot model they need it to. The system is also designed to effortlessly handle simultaneous connections from various devices. This includes not only robots but also additional devices like external sensors and computer vision cameras.

TwinBox enables simultaneous connections, allowing you to control it from a remote desktop with a browser. It also “supports” OPC-UA and RoboDK will be implementing other industrial protocols.

Future plans

The company plans to incorporate TwinBox into the larger RoboDK ecosystem. This includes existing solutions like the main RoboDK Desktop application as well as web-based development tools like RoboDK for Web.

This integration will enable users to take full advantage of all the features that have made RoboDK such a popular robot programming software among automation engineers.

The potential applications for TwinBox are virtually endless. The company hopes that users will take full advantage of the product to easily build efficient robotic solutions that can be easily deployed in production environments.

What questions do you have about RoboDK TwinBox? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel.

The post Introducing TwinBox: RoboDK’s Compact Solution for Production Robot Integration appeared first on RoboDK blog.

One of the core aims of RoboDK is to make robots as easy to integrate as possible. Part of this means providing the tools so that your software tools all work nicely with your industrial robot.

The challenge comes when you are connecting various software tools together. Rather than a smooth integration, you end up having to piece together your own connectors and processes… which is very inefficient.

But, with the right tools and approach, automation integration can be easy.

Why Automation Integration of Software Is Challenging

It can be hard to integrate multiple software tools to create a smooth workflow.

Different software packages are often simply not designed to work together. This problem can become particularly difficult if some robot vendors don’t prioritize inter-compatibility – for example, if they want you to buy their products.

Examples of the problems that can arise when integrating different systems include:

• The requirement for you to create custom connectors to bridge between incompatible software through their APIs (which may or may not be stable).
• Difficulties in maintaining and updating software, as one new update could break your whole system.
• Security risks caused by inexpert linking of different systems.
• Complicated programming caused by complex software dependencies.

All of these challenges, and more besides, can make it extremely difficult to integrate your automation software components.

But, it doesn’t need to be like this…

3 Benefits of Using RoboDK to Integrate Your Automation Software

RoboDK offers many advantages for integrating your automation components. When used for integration, it provides a powerful tool that acts as a link between your existing software workflow and your physical robots.

Here are 3 benefits you can get with RoboDK:

1. Easy Setup and Configuration

RoboDK is simple to use, even if you have never programmed an industrial robot before.

Everyone’s automation setup is often slightly different. This is why we provide a lot of configuration options, helping you to integrate the various aspects of your workflow.

2. Advanced Programming Tools

The apparent simplicity of the RoboDK software doesn’t mean a lack of functionality. There are many advanced features once you are familiar with the basics.

There is a huge range of advanced tools, including artificially intelligent trajectory planning and complex welding pattern generators.

3. Cost-effective Interoperability

Some of the other robot programming tools can be surprisingly expensive and restrictive. As many are vendor-specific, they lock you into a particular software ecosystem.

At RoboDK, we pride ourselves on making interoperability one of our core drivers and providing that in a cost-effective package.

Types of Software Compatible With RoboDK

Many types of software can make up an automation workflow.

What types of software are compatible with RoboDK? Almost any type!

Thanks to RoboDK’s powerful API, App Loader, and plugin functionalities, you can integrate a huge variety of hardware technologies and software packages with your robot.

Examples of software you can integrate with RoboDK include:

• Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software
• Computer-Aided Machining (CAM) software
• Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)
• 3D printing packages
• Machine learning and other software packages
• Cameras and other sensing hardware
• And many more…

Even if you come across a technology or software library that nobody has ever integrated with RoboDK before, posting a quick question on RoboDK’s forum is a great way to find a practical answer quickly.

The Most Popular Integration: CAD/CAM and RoboDK

What type of software do people most often integrate with RoboDK?

Most likely, it’s CAD/CAM packages. This makes sense as people tend to design their products in computer design packages and want to send them to their robot simulation.

You don’t want to have to change your CAD/CAM package just to be able to use robots… and you shouldn’t have to!

For this reason, RoboDK has created a selection of different plugins for some of the world’s leading CAD/CAM tools. With these plugins, you can seamlessly connect your robot to your existing software. This significantly helps to streamline your workflow.

10 Incredible CAD/CAM Packages Compatible with RoboDK

Whatever CAD/CAM package you use, there is a way to integrate it with RoboDK.

The simplest way is to export using standard CAD files. However, our native plugins make this integration even easier.

Here are 12 incredible tools that RoboDK has seamlessly integrated for you:

• BobCAD-CAM – Used by many machinists across manufacturing industries, this is a powerful mechanical design and machining software.

• FeatureCAM – The main purpose of this powerful software is to automate your programming workflow when designing NC code.

• Fusion 360 – This online tool from industry leader Autodesk is a highly popular CAD/CAM tool.

• hyperMILL – This machinist-targeted tool offers a vast array of functionality for common machining applications.

• Inventor – This superstar software is one of the most used CAD/CAM tools in the world.

• Mastercam – This is a very popular, high-end, and functionality-rich package for engineers and machinists.

• MecSoft – This CAM software is know to be powerful, affordable and easy-to-use.

• Onshape – This is the world’s fastest-growing cloud-based CAD system.

• Rhino – This software has the unique ability as a highly accurate freeform surface modeler.

• RhinoCAM – This is itself a plugin for the very popular freeform modeling tool Rhino.

• Siemens Solid Edge – This popular software from Siemens PLM is designed to be affordable, easy to use, and able to handle large assemblies.

• SolidWorks – This has become the most popular CAD software in many industries.

If you are using one of these tools, you can immediately get started integrating with robotic automation by simply downloading the associated plugin.

How to Get Started With Automation System Integration

It’s true that automation integration can be challenging.

However, when you have RoboDK handling the complex software integration steps, your job becomes much easier.

Whether you are using one of these native CAD/CAM plugins, or integrating your software through one of the various other methods, automation integration doesn’t have to be difficult.

Which automation tools would you like to integrate with your robot? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum.. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel

The post Automation Integration Made Easy: How to Use RoboDK with Your Software appeared first on RoboDK blog.

The software landscape for manufacturing is ever-changing. New tools arrive all the time, either to fill gaps in the market or to make better use of the new technology.

Onshape is one such tool. Unlike traditional computer-aided design (CAD) packages, it is entirely browser-based. By using a cloud solution it brings another level of flexibility to manufacturing design.

RoboDK’s team also realized the need for reliable browser-based software. That’s why they released RoboDK for Web back in 2022.

With this new plug-in for Onshape, you can now create product designs and robot programming simulations entirely within your computer’s web browser!

What Is Onshape?

Founded in 2012, Onshape offers cloud-native CAD software. This provides its users with a centralized repository of all design data, making it easy to access, manage, and share design projects from anywhere.

With over two million users, Onshape is very popular. It recently claimed the top spot as the world’s fastest-growing CAD system. It is growing around seven times faster than the average in the market.

Onshape aims to cater to both the specific needs of core engineering teams and non-CAD users. With its wealth of collaboration and agile manufacturing features, it helps foster teamwork from the conception of new products to production.

If you hadn’t heard of Onshape before reading this article, you will almost certainly start hearing about it more. With the growing popularity of collaborative document writing systems, it seems likely that real-time collaborative CAD design will soon become commonplace.

Why Choose Onshape?

As a cloud-based CAD system, Onshape offers a variety of benefits for engineers and designers.

Here are some benefits using Onshape:

Cloud-based Solution

One major benefit of the system is that it eliminates the need for expensive hardware.

As the software is not installed locally, you only need a computer with the capability to run a compatible web browser. You don’t need extensive storage space to hold large project files because everything is stored in the cloud.

Collaboration and Sharing

Onshape is sometimes referred to informally as the “Google Docs of CAD” due to its powerful collaboration features.

You can easily share your CAD designs with both licensed and non-licensed users of Onshape. Non-licensed users can simply view the designs. Licensed users with shared file permissions can simultaneously edit designs in real-time.

Stability and Software Updates

Onshape also stands out thanks to its stability, regular updates, and free learning resources.

Regular updates are released every few weeks and the company provides a live link to check the application’s status and diagnose network issues.

If you do have any issues with the software, Onshape provides extensive training resources and it is supported by an active user community.

Introducing… the New RoboDK Onshape Plugin

What if you could combine the power of cloud-based CAD with a similarly powerful browser-based robot programming?

This is where the RoboDK plug-in for Onshape comes in!

In the plugin, you simply export your CAD file from Onshape and it will show up in the RoboDK window.

Unlike some of RoboDK’s other plug-ins, which are designed for the desktop version, this one works with RoboDK’s online tool: RoboDK for Web.

RoboDK’s CEO Albert explains:

“As with all our plugins, the Onshape plugin is free. We have integrated it with the free-to-use RoboDK for Web. Once you install the App, a window in RoboDK for Web will show that it has been embedded. We are also adding project templates to our library to make it very easy to get started with robot simulation and programming directly from Onshape.”

RoboDK for Web is designed for creating quick proofs of concept and sharing robot simulations. If you want access to more features, you can then download your project directly to RoboDK for Desktop to keep working on it further.

Is This Plugin Right for You?

If you are already using Onshape and you’re looking to get into robot programming, this new plug-in is a must-have!

If you are new to RoboDK, now is a brilliant opportunity to explore it. With RoboDK’s extensive training library and supportive user community, it’s easy to get started with robot programming even if you have never done it before.

If you haven’t tried Onshape yet – maybe you’re a RoboDK user looking for a new CAD software – you can test it to see if it is the right solution for you.

One factor to consider is how important it is that your CAD software is collaborative. Onshape’s real-time collaboration features can certainly be helpful if you are working with remote teams.

How to Get Started Using the New Onshape Plugin

Wondering how you can try out the new Onshape plug-in for yourself?

The best way to assess if it meets your needs is just to try it for yourself! Make a robotic simulation with your Onshape CAD design and see how easy it is to transfer your design into the software for robotic simulation.

You can install the RoboDK plugin from Onshape’s App Store. You may need to create an account with Onshape first. Then, you can try Onshape and RoboDK for free. You can find more information in the RoboDK documentation.

What questions do you have about the new Onshape plugin? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum.. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel

The post Moving Robot CAD to the Cloud: The New Onshape Plugin for RoboDK for Web appeared first on RoboDK blog.

Roboguide can be a suitable solution for some people. It comes directly from FANUC so it can seem like the most “obvious” choice for offline programming.

Offline programming is an important step when working with industrial robots. It allows you to program and test your robot without disrupting your production. There are many benefits of offline programming.

Roboguide does offer these benefits… but it is not the only option available on the market. If you only consider Roboguide and don’t look at the alternatives for offline programming, you could miss some opportunities to improve your robot programming even further.

Here’s a clear introduction to Roboguide…

What is Roboguide?

Roboguide is a software application developed by FANUC that allows users to program FANUC robots offline. As with any offline programming software, it is designed to streamline the programming process and increase efficiency by allowing you to create programs without the physical robot.

The core functionality of the program is its offline programming and simulation. It also has some application-specific features such as PaintPRO for painting applications and WeldPRO for arc welding applications.

FANUC is one of the industry’s leading brands of industrial robots. You can see the manufacturer’s ubiquitous yellow-colored robots in many manufacturing companies across the globe.

It’s common for robot integrators, distributors, and suppliers to specialize in a particular brand of robot. This means that FANUC distributors often only recommend Roboguide to new robot users.

Why People Often Use Roboguide

When we visit trade fairs and conferences, we find that many FANUC users are unaware there are other options for offline programming.

Why do people stick with Roboguide when there are other options for offline programming?

As well as simply being unaware of the other options, there is also the familiarity. If you have bought your robots from FANUC, the brand feels familiar. It feels like it’s safer to buy everything from one supplier rather than looking for alternatives.

RoboDK — The Increasingly Popular Alternative to Roboguide

If you are looking for an alternative to Roboguide, it makes sense to consider RoboDK.

RoboDK is a powerful and user-friendly robotic programming software that makes it easy to create, simulate, and deploy programs for any industrial robot arm.

With RoboDK, you can quickly and easily create robot programs for a range of applications, including welding, palletizing, handling, and assembly tasks. It is compatible with dozens of FANUC robots and works with all the major robot brands.

All of RoboDK’s offline programming features come with a single license. You can find this on the pricing page.

Finally, there is a ton of free RoboDK training on this blog and their YouTube channel.

Is RoboDK for You? How to Find Out

How can you find out if RoboDK is the right solution for your offline programming project?

A good place to start is by downloading a free trial.

You can also find out more about RoboDK’s features on this product page.

What issues have you run into when using Roboguide? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel.

The post Roboguide: How To Program a FANUC Robot appeared first on RoboDK blog.

As the robotics market continues to evolve and more businesses are turning to robotic automation, there is a move away from traditional programming methods. Users don’t want to have to manually move (or “jog”) a robot into position to laboriously program every point, or even model parts in CAD software. They want to record robot trajectories quickly and easily to put the robots into production faster.

With the new TwinTrack Probe, it’s now possible to do just that. Users can program their robot simply by moving the probe by hand and recording their complex paths with ease. This allows the robot to mimic the operator skills.

The design and assembly instructions of the probe are made publicly available so it can be customized to better mimic human skills. The device includes 2 buttons to have better control over the teaching process.

The combination of an off-the-shelf tracker and a 3D printed, open-source tool makes the solution incredibly accessible for any business that wants to increase their automation efficiency.

Accuracy vs. Price

The main challenge with industrial-grade accurate measurement systems is their restrictive price tag. While accuracy can be up to 0.1 mm, using such systems requires extensive knowledge and experience, only available from specific vendors.

Olivier Allard, Software Developer at RoboDK, explains:

“Traditional methods to teach robots by demonstration require very expensive metrology systems, dedicated support, and training. The price tag of this hardware can be over one hundred thousand dollars, which is far more expensive than a robot itself. We wanted to find a cost-effective solution for applications not requiring accuracy to make it more accessible for everyone.”

The new TwinTrack probe can be built with less than 2000 EUR, including the measurement hardware required from HTC and Valve. With the new probe, RoboDK aims to bring the benefits of off-the-shelf and affordable measurement technology to its customers, without the restrictive price tag and allowing to customize the hardware for each manufacturing application.

The benefits of a public design and off-the-shelf tracker

RoboDK specializes in creating solutions that remove the need for costly, vendor-restrictive hardware. The RoboDK programming software already supports over 900 robot models from over 70 brands, and this continues to grow.

The TwinTrack Probe takes advantage of new technology created for Virtual Reality systems, including HTC Vive Trackers and base stations created by Valve such as the Index Base station. The probe itself can be created with any 3D printer, and the company has released the design for all to use.

RoboDK’s CEO Albert says:

“We are making the design of our TwinTrack Probe public. This probe is suitable for applications that don’t require accuracy. The assembly instructions and 3D models are available on GrabCAD and Thingiverse, and the probe relies on the same measurement technology used by VR commercial systems, such as one HTC Vive Tracker and two or more base stations by Valve.”

The solution integrates perfectly with RoboDK software, meaning that recorded paths are immediately available for robot simulation and programming. Once the setup is complete, users can see the simulated probe moving in real time in their RoboDK station.

A few examples of the many possible applications

The TwinTrack Probe can achieve an accuracy of 5mm, which is suitable for many robotic tasks.

Examples of excellent applications for the tool include painting, dispensing, and pick and place. By programming the trajectories in the real environment, the tool helps users compensate for any accuracy error between their simulation and the real objects.

Allard says:

“The system allows you to create a complex path on a custom handmade piece without the need of CAD software. This is useful for applications like painting or dispensing. You can also quickly make pick and place application or create a part reference frame that fits the real part position.”

Easy curve generation for a more streamlined programming workflow

Robots have long been a solution to increase the efficiency of manufacturing processes and eliminate production bottlenecks. However, as robots are more widely available and affordable, the programming step itself has become a bottleneck.

RoboDK’s programming software already helps its many users to program their robots quickly and easily. TwinTrack takes this efficiency one step further by allowing users to program their robot by simply moving the probe through the workspace.

Users can now accurately capture any point or curve in the robot’s workspace simply by touching it with the new probe. Probing a point will create a target within the RoboDK software that can be used for the user’s programming project.

Complex curves and trajectories are also now easier to program than ever. The user can set a custom target density, then move the probe through the air or on the surface of their object. This enables teaching robots remotely, even without the need of a robot or a computer.

Future plans

Now they have released their probe design, the team at RoboDK hopes to see a variety of innovative use cases and success stories from their highly active and engaged user base.

The team is also working to make the system even easier to adopt by creating comprehensive step-by-step setup guides for users looking to construct their own probes.

These initiatives reflect RoboDK’s commitment to empowering users with valuable resources and fostering a culture of innovation and knowledge exchange.

Will you be creating your own probe? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel.

The post New TwinTrack Probe from RoboDK Simplifies Robot Programming by Demonstration appeared first on RoboDK blog.

Simulation and offline programming are valuable tools for improving production processes with robots. They help you solve the problems that can occur when adding automation in a simple, powerful, and efficient way. RoboDK offers a range of benefits that can help you automate with ease.

Let’s explore 9 tried and tested ways you can improve your production process with RoboDK.

1. Automate the Bottleneck Task with RoboDK

A bottleneck task is the one task that uses the most time or resources in your process. It holds up the rest of production and stops you from scaling your operations to meet higher demand.

A powerful way to use robots is to automate your bottleneck task.

By automating, you can add both extra throughput and consistency to the bottleneck task. The right type of robot can improve your throughput immensely, helping you to remove that difficult bottleneck. You can test the impact of this by simulating the task in RoboDK.

2. Free Up Personnel by Automating Boring Tasks

What if you can’t automate the bottleneck task in your business?

Sometimes, a task requires a human touch and can’t be automated. If such a task is causing a bottleneck in your workflow, you might not be able to solve it with a robot.

But there is still a solution. There are probably several boring, repetitive tasks that take time from your workers. Here, you can automate those tasks to free up personnel for the bottleneck task.

3. Incorporate Robot Thinking into Product Development

Adding a robot can also affect production in less obvious ways. For example, your product development process can improve immensely by considering the constraints added by a robot.

Robots require their tasks to be regular and consistent. Often, this means you need to adapt your processes to make them easier to achieve with robotic automation. This robot thinking can help make your process more robust and efficient, even before you consider the productivity of the robot itself.

RoboDK is an ideal tool for testing designs and processes during this product development step. You can test your ideas in the simulator and optimize them before putting them into production.

4. Eliminate Waste and Optimize Cycle Time With RoboDK

Waste is a key factor when you want to improve your production processes. By eliminating waste, you increase productive time and improve efficiency.

With robots, the most common source of waste is unnecessarily long cycle times. When the robot moves more than is necessary or handles material too much, you are wasting valuable time and effort.

RoboDK offers several features for improving cycle times. These include cycle time analysis, intelligent motion planning algorithm, and CAD tool integration.

5. Analyze and Optimize Workflows in the Simulator

Analysis is a key step when you are working to improve your production processes. It allows you to see and understand what is happening in your process, helping you identify opportunities for improvement.

The challenge is that, in the physical world, it’s hard to accurately measure the performance of individual steps in your production process. Real-world data can be messy and many factors influence performance.

Robot simulation provides a valuable tool for analyzing your automated process in depth. You can simulate the effect of changing different variables, helping you to optimize your automated workflows.

6. Train Workers to Use Robots for Continuous Improvement

People are the most important factor in production. When you have knowledgeable, trained, and experienced workers, they can help to improve production continuously.

Most people still have little experience with robots, which can make it hard for them to know how to contribute to automated process improvement.

RoboDK offers a range of free and paid training resources for those looking to improve their robotics knowledge. They teach you how to use robots effectively and spot potential areas for improvement.

7. Test New Machine Purchases Using Simulation

We all know that buying new machinery can be expensive and time-consuming. You don’t want to invest in a robotic system only to find that it doesn’t work for your specific task or requirements.

With RoboDK’s simulator, you can quickly and easily test many different robots for your task before you make a purchase. This reduces the risk of investing in robots and will help to speed up the deployment process.

8. Create Standard Components for Copy-Paste Robot Cells

A significant benefit of offline programming — i.e. programming the robot in a simulator — is the ability to create standardized templates and program modules you can easily reuse between robot projects.

This also means that you can create “copy-paste” robot cells. Once you have successfully deployed one robot to a task, you can create an exact replica of this robot using the same programming template. In this way, you can easily scale your robotic capabilities.

9. Develop a Culture of Robotic Automation

While you could use RoboDK for just one robot deployment, the real power of using robots is when you develop a “culture of robotic automation.”

By making robots an integral part of your workflow, you can continue to save time and budget for years to come. With RoboDK’s offline programming and simulation features, you can easily test new ideas for robotic automation and quickly deploy those ideas once you have optimized the programs.

There are so many ways that RoboDK can help you improve your production process. So get started today!

How could robot offline programming and simulation improve your production process? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel

The post 9 Ways to Improve a Production Process with RoboDK appeared first on RoboDK blog.

Offline programming offers a way to make industrial robot programming easier, faster, and more flexible.

With the right approach to offline programming, you can create powerful programs for your industrial robots without needing extensive robotics expertise or expensive solutions.

But what makes offline programming such a compelling approach?

What challenges might you encounter when moving to offline programming?

And how do you create a reliable system quickly and easily?

Let’s look at how you can get the most from industrial robot programming offline…

What is Offline Programming for Industrial Robots?

Offline programming (often shortened to OLP) is a method of industrial robot programming that enables you to program robots without needing access to the physical robots.

This type of programming lets you create, test, and improve your robot programs in a simulated virtual environment. With OLP software like RoboDK, you can create these programs visually, without needing to type any code… unless you want to, of course.

Once you’re sure your program functions correctly – having debugged it in the simulator — the OLP software then converts your program into instructions that your robot controller understands. This is done by a post-processor for your particular robot model.

Beyond basic OLP, there are also add-ons that make the programming process even easier. For example, RoboDK TwinTrack allows you to program any robot by moving a 3D tracking probe.

Advantages of Offline Programming for Industrial Robots

OLP offers several advantages over conventional robotic programming. It can help you get more useful and complex functionality from your industrial robots.

A few of the advantages include:

• Easier, more efficient debugging — It’s easier to find mistakes in your robot program when you are working with a simulated robot. OLP means you first create a working program, then you handle any of the remaining issues caused by the physical robot.

• Less disruptive, costly robot downtime — Whenever a physical robot is out of production, it costs you money. OLP allows you to reduce this disruptive time to a minimum.

• Smoother transition from idea to production — Let’s face it, robots sometimes seem “temperamental” (like many machines). When you have a new idea, the hardware quirks can derail you from turning your idea into a prototype. OLP helps smooth this process by first creating a virtual simulation.

There are many other advantages to using OLP. You can read about some of them in our article 5 Ways Robotic Offline Programming Can Benefit Your Business.

6 Steps to Set Up an Environment for Offline Programming

If you want to get started with offline programming quickly, there are a few steps that you should follow to go from zero to a working OLP platform.

Here are 6 steps to follow:

1. Choose an OLP platform that is user-friendly and specifically designed for industrial robot programming. Some systems, for example, are primarily designed for research settings, so would be less suitable.
2. Plan your robot program before you start creating it in the software. Even a simple “back of a napkin” plan or a video of you walking through the task by hand can make the programming process much easier.
3. Create the program in your OLP software. If you have never used offline programming before, there is a wealth of free training to help you get started.
4. Do as much testing and debugging as you can in the time you have available. The more potential issues you fix in the simulator, the faster it will be to integrate your code with the physical robot.
5. Put the robot into production. This may require a bit of extra debugging to account for the peculiarities of the physical setup.
6. Collect data and aim to improve your robot deployment over time. This is usually inherently more efficient with OLP because you don’t have to take the robot out of production to test new ideas for improvements.

By following these high-level steps, you can set up your OLP environment for easy, efficient industrial robot programming.

Common Challenges with Robot Programming

Of course, we all know that simply presented steps like those listed above can sometimes hide a lot of complexity.

It’s likely that you will encounter at least some challenges that you need to overcome, especially if you’ve never deployed a robot before with offline programming.

Here are 5 challenges you might encounter with OLP, each with a resource where you can start looking for solutions:

• Discrepancies between the virtual and physical robot — Easy Robot Calibration for Optimal Performance

• Difficulties integrating components and tools from different suppliers — The 5 Minute Guide to Use Any End Effector with RoboDK

• Developing complex motions easily — TwinTrack: A Tool For Simple Handheld Robot Programming

• Incorporating external functionality libraries — How the RoboDK API Makes Robot Machine Learning Easier

• Dealing with a simulation setup that seems complex! — How to Tell If Your Robot Simulation Setup Is Too Complex

And remember that there is always help at hand. If you are struggling with any aspect of robot programming, a good place to look for answers is in the RoboDK user forum.

Why RoboDK Makes Industrial Robot Programming Easier

RoboDK is one offline programming tool that many industrial users find extremely useful. It offers a powerful set of functionalities that help make your robot programming easier, faster, and more efficient.

Whether you are an experienced robot programmer or you have never used an industrial robot before, be assured that offline programming can help you.

What are your next steps? A good place to start is to explore some of the resources already shared in this article, to see how offline programming could apply to your specific process.

What challenges do you foresee with industrial robot programming? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum.. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel

The post Easier and Faster Offline Programming appeared first on RoboDK blog.

For many people, RoboDK’s standard graphical user interface is their primary method for using the software. While this is a very intuitive way to program your robot – especially if you are a beginner – the software has a lot more capabilities than you might first realize.

With the API, you can create some very sophisticated programs in just a few lines of code in your favorite programming language.

Whether you’re looking to automate simple repetitive programming tasks or you want to take on more complex challenges, here’s how to use the API…

Automating Repetitive Tasks with RoboDK’s API

One of the tremendous benefits of using robots is that they can take over the dull and repetitive parts of people’s jobs.

But programming robots can also be dull and repetitive. When you have to perform the same programming and configuration steps over and over, you might wish that you had a robot to program your robot.

This is where the API comes in!

With the API, you can script and automate parts of your programming process in just a few lines of code.

Here are a few examples of programming tasks that you could automate:

• Motion and trajectory generation — Perhaps you repeatedly need to generate new robot trajectories, such as when a new product is added to your production. You could create a program to generate these trajectories programmatically and then call the RoboDK API to generate the robot program.

• Passing parameters from other programming steps — The more you automate your production line, the more you will need to pass information between different automation stages. You can use the API to create middleware programs between to act as a bridge between these steps.

• Monitoring the robot’s performance — You can also create programs to monitor the operation of the robot. This could involve simple error reporting or a more complex setup with vision sensors. You could then use the API to send corrective instructions to the robot.

You could even employ more advanced programming techniques, such as using artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Understanding the 5 Elements of RoboDK’s API

What do you need to know about the RoboDK API? It’s helpful to understand the core components.

Below is an overview of the main 5 elements of the API. You can find out more details in the extensive API documentation (here the Python API).

1. robolink

The robolink module is the main module of the API. It provides the fundamental functionality to interact with the RoboDK software and your code.

Robolink can access any item from within your RoboDK program tree, load models, define tools, set robot movements, and generate programs.

2. robomath

Robotic programming often involves a lot of geometrical mathematics. These are difficult to calculate using the standard mathematics functions in most programming languages.

To make this math easier, we have implemented the robomath module, based on the Robotics Toolbox by Professor Peter Corke.

3. robodialogs

Much of the functionality in the graphical interface of RoboDK involves interacting with message boxes and other types of dialogs.

The robodialogs module contains functionality to handle these dialogs, including opening and saving files.

4. robofileio

RoboDK supports a wide variety of file types, including robot program files (such as ABB’s .mod or KUKA’s .ls), CAD files (such as .step or .stl), and standard data files (such as .txt or .csv).

The robofileio provides functionality to handle and analyze files, such as finding if files exist and generating safe variable names that can be used for robot programming.

5. roboapps

Finally, the roboapps module is the API interface for the RoboDK Apps toolbox.

The RoboDK App interface allows you to extend the functionality of RoboDK even further. It allows you to load scripts and executable files as if they were plug-ins in RoboDK software.

An Example of Automating a Complex Trajectory with the API

What does it look like when you use the RoboDK API for more advanced programming automation?

Let’s look at an example of robot art generation (which is a common usage for RoboDK among artists). In this case, say we are using Python to create a fractal trajectory with the robot.

Programming a fractal with RoboDK’s graphical interface alone could be a very tricky activity. Fractals are, by nature, programmatic – they are defined by mathematical formulas. So it makes sense to use programs to create them instead of a graphical interface.

A basic form of fractal is the Koch curve. It is fairly simple to program a Koch curve in Python. Using the method explained in this example here to create a Koch Snowflake, you could generate a Koch curve in your Python code and send the resulting trajectory points to your robot with the RoboDK API. This would be possible in very few lines of code.

If you wanted even more complex fractal designs, such as the Barnsley Fern or Mandelbrot Set, you could also achieve these in a similar way. Most of your program would stay exactly the same – only the fractal generation function would change.

How to Get Started With the RoboDK API

The RoboDK API is a powerful tool that can help you optimize and streamline your robot programming process.

With programming languages like Python or MATLAB, programming doesn’t even have to be difficult. The languages themselves are intuitive enough that you don’t need to be a highly skilled programmer to create powerful programs.

Get started with the RoboDK API by heading over to the documentation and having a look at what it is capable of!

What programming tasks do you find repetitive? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum.. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel

The post Introduction to RoboDK’s API: How to Automate Repetitive Tasks appeared first on RoboDK blog.

ABB has an impressive presence in many international markets. In fact, you can find ABB products on all the continents of the world – even Antarctica! ABB Robotics has a 10.04% market share in the engineering and manufacturing market.

In this Spotlight on ABB, we’ll look at how you can program ABB robots easily for your chosen application.

The ABB Story: What Sets ABB Robots Apart

The history of ABB really begins when with the merger of two significant engineering companies.

Brown, Boveri & Cie (BBC) was an innovative Swiss-based electrical engineering firm specializing in the development of steam turbines and other power sources. Elektriska Aktiebolaget (ASEA) developed Sweden’s first three-phase transmission system and built the country’s first nuclear power plant. In 1988, the two companies combined to become ASEA Brown Boveri (ABB), bringing together over 200 years of expertise.

ABB Robotics began in 1998, with the launch of the company’s FlexPicker robot. It revolutionized industrial robotics by allowing advanced high-speed picking and packing applications.

Now, ABB is a leading global technology company with a focus on robotics and automation technologies across a large range of industries. The company has over 110,000 employees in more than 100 countries around the world and an annual revenue of over $28 billion.

The company says “We envisage a future where the physical and digital worlds merge, making operations safer, more intelligent, and more productive.”

What Industries are ABB Robots Used In?

ABB robots are used in a wide range of industries, including automotive, construction, education, electronics, healthcare, logistics, and metal fabrication.

For example, in the automotive industry, ABB robots are often used for tasks like welding, painting, and inspection. In construction, manufacturing companies use them for heavy lifting and precision cutting of wood and metal. In the electronics industry, the company’s delta robots are often used for assembly and pick and place tasks.

There are so many potential industries where ABB robots are used, it’s very likely that you can find various applications that work for you.

3 Example Applications for ABB Robots

There are so many applications areas where you can apply ABB robots, including palletizing, welding, painting, assembly, pick and place, material handling, and many more.

Here is a spotlight on just 3 of these application areas, along with examples of ABB robot models that suit them:

1. Palletizing

Palletizing is an increasingly popular robotic application that involves stacking items onto pallets for shipment. It is a critical step in supply chain logistics.

ABB’s IRB 460 robotic palletizer is, according to the company, the world’s fastest palletizing robot. It can achieve up to 2,190 cycles per hour with a 60 kg load, 15% faster than its closest competitor.

See the IRB 460 in RoboDK’s Robot Library.

2. Welding

Welding involves joining two or more pieces of metal together to form a strong bond. As welding processes have become more complex, robot welding has grown in popularity. Professional welders are also now more scarce than ever.

ABB’s IRB 1520ID welding robot is designed to maximize efficiency in welding operations. It comes with an integrated hose package that allows easy routing of all the necessary media for welding (e.g. power, welding wire, shielding gas).

See the IRB 1520ID in RoboDK’s Robot Library.

3. Material Handling

Material handling is a wide-ranging category, including tasks like loading, unloading, sorting, and transporting. Indeed, robots can be used for various material handling tasks to increase productivity and consistency.

ABB’S IRB 1200 material handling robot offers users high-level flexibility. Compact and with ample working areas, the robot is easy to use for material handling tasks.

See the IRB 1200 in RoboDK’s Robot Library.

Options for Programming ABB Robots

All in all, whatever application you choose, you need to program your robot easily and in a way that integrates with all your other processes.

There are a few options for programming ABB robots:

Brand Programming Language: RAPID

The RAPID programming language is ABB’s basic method for programming its industrial robots. It uses object-oriented programming and provides functionality to move the robot, compute mathematic functions, and handle inputs and outputs.

Teach Pendant Information

Teach pendants are the standard method for programming industrial robots. They require you to program the robot online, which means the robot must be taken out of operation for programming.

There are two teach pendants available for ABB robots the older legacy pendant and the FlexPendant. Both offer a graphical user interface and buttons for creating your program.

RoboDK

RoboDK is an offline programming and simulation software that works with a wide variety of robot brands. It is compatible with many ABB models, which you can find in the online Robot Library.

As an offline programming tool, you can program your robot with RoboDK without taking the robot out of production. No programming skills are required with the intuitive RoboDK graphical interface. Overall, you can even use the RoboDK API to program robots in your favorite programming language.

How to Program ABB Robots Easily with RoboDK

If you want to streamline the deployment process for your ABB industrial robot, it’s worth looking at using RoboDK for your programming.

RoboDK’s rich simulation environment makes it easy to quickly design robot programs and test them before you put the robot into production.

Finally, to get started, download a trial copy of RoboDK from our download page and load up your favorite robot model.

Which ABB robot do you use and for which applications? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum.. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel

The post Spotlight on ABB: How to Program ABB Robots appeared first on RoboDK blog.

When you hear someone talking about singularities and robotics, it’s important to be clear about what they are talking about. Otherwise, you will talk at cross purposes and not understand each other.

For example, an academic professor or engineer in mechatronics might only talk about kinematic singularities. They might view the other type as being “trivial” or fanciful. On the other hand, a professor in robotic ethics or a journalist might be far more interested in the “technological” or “robotic singularity” and its impact on humankind.

What does “singularity” mean in terms of robotics?

Which of the 2 types should you care about?

And why are singularities so worrying?

Here’s a clear comparison of the two concepts.

What is a Singularity?

In the most simple terms, a singularity is a condition where mathematical or systematic rules “misbehave.” For instance, when the mathematical equations used to describe the normal functioning of a system break down. At this point, the system stops performing as it is intended to perform.

Singularities are a frequent occurrence in physics. This is because math is precise, whereas the physical world is not.

For example, a black hole is a point in the universe where, mathematically, there should be an infinite gravitational pull — a singularity. We don’t know if this is really true (if there is infinite gravity) because we’ve never been into a black hole to measure the gravity in one.

A closer-to-home example would be the plug in your bathroom sink (or any other sink). Mathematically, the water should move infinitely fast at the center of the plug hole — a singularity. But water can’t move infinitely fast, so the math breaks down at this point.

Robot Singularity vs Kinematic Singularity: The Basics

In robotics, we talk about two types of singularity: the robot (or technological) singularity and kinematic singularities.

The robot singularity, or technological singularity, refers to a situation where robots and artificial intelligence becomes so sophisticated that they surpass or become indistinguishable from humans. At this time, the “rules” or laws of life and society break down and a new reality is created.

A kinematic singularity refers to a particular location in a robot’s workspace that causes it to lose one or more degrees of freedom, thus restricting its movement. This happens because the math that controls the robot requires one of its joints to move infinitely fast or become infinitely stiff.

Why is it important to know the difference? By understanding both of these important concepts in robotics, you can make better use of robotic technology and make more informed decisions about robot usage.

The Robot Singularity: When Robots Take Over

“The robot singularity,” is a common nickname for the more correctly termed “technological singularity,” or “AI singularity.”

The robot singularity is a hypothetical point in time where technology advances so rapidly that it becomes unimaginably complex. At this time, all our existing models and frameworks for living our life break down. We would have to create an entirely new way of existing in the world, probably governed by the technology itself.

It’s important that we understand the implications of the robot singularity because of its ethical implications. Theoretically, the singularity could happen very quickly with little to no warning. So we need to be conscious of such effects when we are designing any advanced technology.

What Are the Implications of the Robot Singularity?

The shift in technology that leads to a technological singularity could lead to significant changes in our way of life.

The time after the robot singularity happens has been termed the “posthuman era.” The implication is that it would not only redefine how we interact with technology, but it would also redefine what it means to be human.

If we don’t discuss the implications of this theoretical singularity, we could stumble blindly into it. By then, it would be too late to avoid it.

Some commentators believe that the “tipping point” that will lead to the singularity is already here. With artificial intelligence now permeating almost every industry, this is important to consider.

Kinematic Singularities: When Robots “Move Weird”

Kinematic singularities are much more mundane. However, they are arguably more useful for most robot users to understand.

A kinematic singularity occurs when the forward or inverse kinematic equations of a particular robotic system become uncoupled. This means that the direct relationship between joint positions and end effector position doesn’t exist anymore. In other words, if a joint angle is changed, it doesn’t affect the position of the end effector in the correct way.

When your robot moves into or near a kinematic singularity, it will behave unusually. Sometimes it will get stuck, requiring you to manually move it away from the singularity. Other times, the robot will slow down or make a strange motion.

It’s important to understand kinematic singularities because they can mess up your robot programming.

What Are the Implications of Kinematic Singularities?

There can be wide-reaching implications of kinematic singularities on your robotic applications.

The most obvious implication is that your robot’s motions can become unpredictable. This can cause the robot to perform the job badly, ruining the product or creating dangerous situations that affect worker safety.

Singularities can also make robot programming more difficult. If you can’t be certain that your robot will behave as intended, how can you trust it with your important job?

One practical example is robot welding. If a robot passes through a singularity when welding, it could slow down or speed up, creating a pool of excess weld or reducing the strength of the weld. You can find out more in our article 5 Tips to Avoid Singularity Problems in Robot Welding.

Which Robot Singularity Should You Care About More?

We robotics engineers are often very practical people. If you talk to many roboticists about the “worrying technological singularity,” it’s common for them to write off your concerns as being sensationalist. They might say that you have been watching too many science fiction movies.

On a day-to-day basis, kinematic singularities are more important and more useful for robot users. They directly affect how your robot functions for particular tasks.

But both types of singularity are important.

Sure, the ethical questions around technological singularity may just be an interesting philosophical discussion. But it’s a discussion that we all need to have, every so often, to remind us to be intentional about how we design and use robots.

In short, most of the time, you should care more about kinematic singularities. But don’t forget about the technological singularity.

What questions about the robot and kinematic singularity has this article raised for you? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum.. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel

The post Robot Singularity vs Kinematic Singularity: What’s the Difference? appeared first on RoboDK blog.

Downtime is an inevitable part of any manufacturing process. But too much downtime can quickly add up. If you aren’t careful, your downtime will lead to lost production and profits.

There are various ways to reduce downtime in a manufacturing business, including upgrading equipment and creating a technology plan.

One particularly effective way to reduce downtime in a business is to use robotic offline programming software. This allows you to program your robots offline, without having to be connected to the physical robot controller. You can thus carry out programming tasks without disrupting the operation of the robot. This reduces the downtime usually caused by programming.

If you want to minimize your downtime as much as possible, it helps to understand what causes that downtime.

Here’s a clear introduction…

What Is Machine Downtime?

Machine downtime refers to the amount of time that a machine is not able to be used for its intended purpose. Downtime can be caused by many factors, including maintenance, repairs, or simply waiting for a new part to be delivered to the machine.

You can’t remove all downtime completely. However, too much downtime can quickly lead to lost profits. Every moment that a machine is not performing productive work is potentially wasted time.

Sometimes, machine downtime occurs because of mechanical failures, such as a broken part or malfunctioning component. However, this is comparatively rare and easy to avoid with a regular maintenance schedule.

An even more common source of machine downtime is just not using the machine to its full potential. When the machine is being operated manually, this can happen when the operator is doing more tasks than they can handle. So they regularly leave the machine sitting idle. Human error is also one of the most common causes of downtime.

Robots are a good way to reduce this type of downtime. However, robot programming itself can introduce further downtime.

The Downside of Too Much Downtime

You should not overlook the impact of downtime on your business. Even small amounts of unnecessary downtime can lead to increased expenses and reduced productivity.

How much could downtime cost your manufacturing business?

The financial impact can vary depending on the industry, but it is always costly. For example, downtime costs the automotive industry around $22,000 USD per minute, according to a Thomas survey.

But the negative impacts of machine downtime are not limited to finances.

Other potential negative consequences of downtime can include:

• Loss of productivity and profits: When machines are down, you can’t produce anything. This reduces your productivity and can end up eating into your profits.

• Delays in production: The delays in orders can lead to angry customers and lost business.

• Harming the company’s reputation: Frustrated customers will eventually leave and go to one of your competitors, and they are unlikely ever to return to you.

• Poor customer service: If customers have to wait for orders because of downtime, there is little your customer service team can do, leading to overall frustration from both employees and customers.

• Lowered workforce morale: When machine downtime leads to workers being constantly unable to keep up with orders, it becomes stressful and can harm morale in the company.

5 Common Causes of Machine Downtime

What causes machine downtime? There are many potential causes, but some are more common than others.

Here are 5 common causes of machine downtime:

1. Human Error

Probably the top cause of machine downtime is human error. Either people use the machines wrongly or their busy workload leads to the machine lying idle for longer than necessary.

Using robots can help to reduce the effect of human error by removing excess tasks from the hands of workers.

2. Equipment Malfunctions

Sometimes, machines break down or stop working as intended. When this happens, you need to repair them.

You can reduce equipment malfunctions by having a good maintenance program.

3. Unavailable Parts

A lack of inventory, parts, or other resources can hinder production. Having a well-stocked inventory can help, but it isn’t always enough.

When you give a task to a robot, this can give your workers more mental bandwidth to check inventory and product flow more regularly, helping them to ensure they don’t run out of inventory.

4. Employee Shortages

Many businesses are suffering from labor shortages right now. Such shortages can slow down or stop production, as there are not enough operators to fulfill tasks.

Robots can help minimize the impact of employee shortages by helping you get more from the workers you already have.

5. Underutilization

When you don’t use your machines to their full potential, you are potentially leaving money on the table by not producing as much or as efficiently as you could.

Offline programming can help to minimize downtime in this case. You can optimize your robot program to get as much from your machines as possible.

How to Minimize Machine Downtime With Offline Programming

Robot offline programming software, like RoboDK, allows you to program robots without having to stop production. This means you can program your robots while they are still performing productive work.

Here are 5 steps to start minimizing machine downtime with RoboDK:

1) Download and install RoboDK.

2) Connect your robot to RoboDK using the Post Processor.

3) Create a program in RoboDK.

4) Test and improve your program on the virtual robot.

5) When the program is ready, upload it to your physical robot.

With offline programming, the only downtime is during the last step. This significantly reduces the impact of programming time compared to conventional robot programming, where the robot would stop production for the entire process.

If you want to keep your business running smoothly, you need to minimize downtime. And robot offline programming can be a very valuable tool to help you achieve that.

How does machine downtime currently affect your business? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum.. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel

The post How to Minimize Machine Downtime with RoboDK appeared first on RoboDK blog.

In today’s increasingly competitive market, we are all continuously looking for new ways to stay ahead. Both agile and flexible manufacturing can be a way to achieve this competitive edge. The two terms are related, but they are not the same.

How can you improve your manufacturing business by adding agility, flexibility, or both?

Where do robots fit in an agile or flexible manufacturing process?

And what are the benefits of either approach?

Let’s compare agile manufacturing and flexible manufacturing to find out how you can apply them to make your business more competitive.

What is agile manufacturing?

Agile manufacturing is an approach that uses adaptable processes and new technologies to respond quickly and efficiently to changing market demands. An agile process will adapt to unpredictable changes, even allowing manufacturers to change their entire product lines if need be.

Agile manufacturing has shot to popularity in the last few years as businesses realized they need to keep up with the rapidly changing world conditions. There have been various challenges, including changing trade restrictions, supply chain disruptions, and labor shortages.

Those companies that responded in an agile way to such challenges are those that have come out ahead.

The key feature of an agile system is its ability to respond to unplanned and unpredictable changes. Although researchers define agility in various ways, a system’s robustness to such changes is a key factor.

When faced with an unexpected situation, an agile manufacturing system will use a combination of predetermined and innovative strategies to readjust its production.

4 benefits of agile manufacturing

There are various benefits to agile manufacturing.

These include:

1. Reduced costs — Agile technologies, such as robots, can require less capital investment than more conventional mass production automation. They also need much less setup time and effort.
2. Faster response time — When a completely unexpected event hits your industry, agile manufacturing allows you to change almost immediately to respond. For example, during the 2020 global pandemic, many manufacturing companies switched to manufacturing medical supplies, some in only a few weeks.
3. Global scalability — Agility also allows you to respond to changing international demands and regulations. This can help your company if you are trying to grow globally.
4. Reduced waste — With agile manufacturing, you only create products that are actually needed. This means you reduce the waste caused by having lots of unused “just in case” inventory.

What is flexible manufacturing?

Flexible manufacturing is a process whereby manufacturers can rapidly alter production capacity to meet planned changes in demand. For example, a flexible system can adapt to meet seasonal changes demands or fluctuations created by regular external events.

The need for flexible manufacturing has grown over the years with the increasing demand for product customization, shorter product life cycles, and more diverse customer needs. Companies now need to continually change their production processes rather than producing exactly the same products year after year, as was normal in the past.

The key feature of a flexible system is its ability to respond to planned and predictable changes. For example, perhaps you know you will always have a rush of new orders around the winter period. You can plan for this in advance by designing your manufacturing process to scale quickly following such a rush.

When faced with an expected situation, a flexible manufacturing system will seamlessly transition to meet the new production requirements using predetermined strategies.

5 benefits of flexible manufacturing

There are also various benefits to flexible manufacturing.

These include:

1. Better control over processes — Flexibility puts you in the driving seat. It’s no longer stressful to react to changes in product demand or other external situations. Change becomes just a normal part of your manufacturing process.
2. Continuous improvement — The key to success with flexible manufacturing is to view it as a process of continuous improvement. Whenever you experience a change in product demand or supply chain disruption, you change your system to help you better respond to similar events in the future.
3. Reduced lead times — Flexible manufacturing systems can change product lines quickly. This allows you to reduce product lead times and more smoothly meet customer demand.
4. Scalability — With flexible production, you can dynamically raise or lower productivity to suit current demand. This makes scalability a core part of your manufacturing process.

Agile vs flexible: Which is better?

The basic answer is… neither is better… or both are better!

In an ideal world, you can incorporate aspects of both agility and flexibility into your manufacturing operations.

With flexible manufacturing, you can “engineer to order.” This means creating products that are customized to customer needs and demands. It also allows you to gradually improve your process efficiency and product quality incrementally over time.

With agile manufacturing, you can go one step further and “innovate to order.” This means you can quickly adapt your process to create brand new products that meet customer needs on-demand. You can completely re-engineer the production process to deliver products you couldn’t have predicted, such as how Sunrob Robotics created custom hockey sticks in our case study.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide whether you need more agility, flexibility, or both. However, by incorporating aspects of both agile and flexible manufacturing, you can reap the full rewards of both approaches.

How robotics helps you be both agile and flexible

Adding robots is often a key tool for maximizing both agility and flexibility in manufacturing.

Many robotic systems are inherently agile, as you can easily reprogram them for new tasks. However, you need to use a robot programming software that facilitates this agility.

With software like RoboDK, you can make almost any industrial robot into a valuable tool to improve the agility and flexibility of your entire manufacturing process.

How would more agility or flexibility help you? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum.. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel

The post Agile vs Flexible: What’s the Difference for Robotic Manufacturing? appeared first on RoboDK blog.

What does it mean to optimize robot programming?

At its most basic, programming optimization involves improving your programming methods so that deployment is more efficient. This could involve optimizing code, reducing programming time, using different software tools, and improving team communication around programming.

In this article, we look at the benefits of having an optimized programming process and methods you can use to improve your own robot programming.

What Does it Mean to Have Efficient Robot Programming?

Efficient programming is all about using the right tools and a streamlined programming workflow. This means looking at how the distinct elements of the robot deployment process fit together and finding ways to complete them with speed and accuracy.

There are many ways to program a robot, including traditional teach pendant programming, hand guiding, and offline programming with a simulator.

When you are deploying a robot to your process, you have a lot to worry about. You need to buy the right robot, take the time to adapt your existing processes and get your team to accept the robot. This can be a lot of work and stress.

You don’t need programming to be another cause of stress.

When you have an efficient robot programming workflow, it becomes quicker and easier to program your robot for your task. This gives you more time and capacity to focus on other parts of the deployment.

5 Tips to Optimize Robot Programming

Here are 5 ways you can optimize your robot programming:

• Set a clear programming workflow. Once you have an idea of the overall flow and stages of robot deployment, formalize these steps into a repeatable process.

• Use the right tools. Programming tools like RoboDK include many features to help you create an optimal programming process right from the start.

• Document your programming process. Efficiency usually only comes when people know what they are doing. Don’t assume that you will always remember the steps of your programming workflow and document them.

• Use consistent program and target naming conventions. Programs that follow the same naming rules are easier for everyone to read and understand. For example, set a clear naming convention for the targets you use in your RoboDK offline programs.

• Create templates for similar tasks. It’s often better when you don’t create a new robot program from scratch every time. Create template projects within RoboDK and work from these when you start a new project.

By following these tips, you can optimize your programming with RoboDK and create efficient and effective programs for any robotic task.

Using RoboDK to Optimize Your Programming Workflows

RoboDK is a feature-rich software suite for robot offline programming and simulation. It can help you develop programs efficiently while accessing the features of your robotic hardware.

The software comes with an extensive library of example projects, which you can use as a basis for your own robot programs. It also helps you to troubleshoot your robot programs and optimize the code through tools like artificial intelligence motion planning.

What programming optimization questions do you have? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum.. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel

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