And, indeed, should your simulation be highly realistic?

It’s important to understand the delicate balance between realism and usefulness in robotic simulations.

On the one hand, high-level realism allows you to create a more accurate depiction of how the robot will perform in a real-world setting. This helps you to create simulations that more closely match the operating conditions in your facility. On the other hand, striving for absolute realism in your simulation can compromise its usefulness. The simulation can become overly complex and time-consuming, creating a system that is impractical.

The most useful level of realism for your virtual environments is one that accurately reproduces the robot’s task, while remaining streamlined and efficient.

Here’s how to judge and create that level of realism.

What Does It Mean to Have a Realistic Simulation?

Realism refers to how accurately a simulation replicates the real-world behavior and functionality of the robot. This includes the robot’s movement dynamics, interaction with the environment, and operation.

It’s important to understand that a realistic simulation isn’t necessarily one that looks visually pleasing. Qualities of realism like complex lighting and shadows, high-definition rendering, and advanced surface modeling are not usually necessary. While these attributes might enhance the visual appeal of the simulation, they usually don’t contribute to the robot’s performance.

Instead, a realistic simulation should focus on aspects that directly affect the robot’s performance.

Remember, the point of adding realism is not to have an accurate simulation… it’s to have a useful robot.

3 Types of Realism for Effective Robotic Simulation

There are various ways you can look at realism in robotic simulations. For example, you can split it into different types.

Here’s one way to look at 3 types of simulation:

1. Operational Realism

Operational realism refers to the accurate representation of the actual operations of the robots. This involves faithful representation of the robot’s kinetic and dynamic properties and its interaction with the environment.

The primary purpose of operational realism is to create a robot program that will perform optimally in the real-world environment.

2. Visual Realism

Visual realism refers to the accurate graphical rendering of the simulation. With it, you create a visually appealing virtual representation of the real-world environment.

While visual realism might not directly affect the operational effectiveness of the robot, it can be very important for certain applications. For example, if your application uses [robot vision sensors,][RKCAMERA], high levels of visual realism can help you accurately test this sense.

3. Physics Realism

Physics realism refers to accurate modeling of the physical laws that govern the environment where the robot operates. This includes factors like gravity, friction, and collision dynamics that might affect the robot’s performance.

This is one area where you need to strike a balance with your simulation. If you add more physical realism than is necessary, your simulation can quickly become unwieldy.

How Simulation Realism Affects Robot Deployment

When you want to deploy a robot to your workplace, it’s a good idea to start by identifying the level of simulation realism that will be necessary. This will vary depending on your task and application area.

The wrong level of realism in your virtual environment could negatively affect the deployment.

For example, here are some disadvantages to using an overly realistic simulation:

• Increased computational load — Highly realistic simulations use more computational resources, which slows down the simulation.
• Complex debugging — More realism usually leads to programs that are harder to maintain and debug.
• Cost and time — Creating very realistic simulations often takes longer and costs more in terms of computer resources and programming.
• Inaccuracy from overfitting — No simulation is 100% accurate to the real world. As a result, a higher level of realism can actually lead to a worse operation of the physical robot. This is known as “overfitting.”
• Unnecessary details — Any details that are not relevant to the robot’s operation are probably a distraction.

By stripping away unnecessary details from your robot simulation, you can focus on the critical aspects of the robot’s operation and prevent overfitting.

The Realistic Robot Simulation (RRS) Project and RoboDK

In RoboDK, we are dedicated to address a significant challenge in industrial robotics: the need for accurate, easy-to-use robot simulation.

One way we have done this recently is to incorporate the Realistic Robot Simulation (RRS) project. The RRS is an ambitious initiative designed to address the current limitations in the accuracy of offline generated programs for industrial robot.

The primary goal of the RRS is to enhance the precision of robot programs, enabling a more economic and efficient application of industrial robots.

We have created an RRS project add-in which helps to improve the accuracy of robot programs developed with RoboDK. It provides an interface to incorporate accurate robot controller software for motion behavior into offline programming.

Finding the Right Level of Simulation for Your Application

How can you find the right level of virtual environment realism for your robot simulation?

Here are a few tips for finding the right level of realism for your application:

1. Understand the simulation needs for your project — Begin by outlining your project objectives and defining the purpose that your robot will serve.
2. Evaluate your interactions — Consider both the physical and other interactions that your robot will have with the environment and other components in the workspace.
3. Assess the operational environment — Evaluate which elements of the environment need to be included in the simulation.
4. Be realistic about visual realism needs — Look at the rendering and visual requirements of your simulation. Identify what aspects are really necessary.
5. Determine your performance requirements — Identify the level of computing performance required from the simulation tasks. For example, high-precision tasks might need more detailed simulations.
6. Factor in your budget and resources — Lastly, consider your resources and budget. More realistic simulations may demand more computing power and programming skills.

With all of these, strive for balance — a simulation that meets your needs without being “too much.”

Remember, creating realistic robot simulations is fundamental when working with modern robots. By using the right tools, like our RRS add-on, you can create a robot simulation that works for you.

What questions do you have about accuracy and realism in robot simulations? 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 Creating Realistic Virtual Environments for Robot Simulation in RoboDK appeared first on RoboDK blog.

The system included a 6-axis KUKA robot arm mounted on a rail (linear axis), a tilting table for rotary operation, and a spindle. Additionally, a GTV cladding head (powder+laser) enabled additive functions resulting in an overall cycle time of 5 minutes when reloading Steel 4140 parts. This project examined the numerical chain within FORCE Technology‘s setup through a genuine application instance.

Ever mindful of their environmental responsibilities, the project enabled FORCE Technology to determine how to repair a gear instead of replacing it. In turn, they avoided throwing away a whole part and wasting materials and labor costs. In addition, they kept downtime and costs low due to eliminating the need for replacement parts. The project was a successful example of how robot integration can improve MRO (Maintenance Repair and Operations) to alleviate sustainability concerns.

FORCE Technology employed ESPRIT, the Hexagon’s “Hybrid” CAM to program additive head path planning, and RoboDK to resolve kinematics and collisions while generating robot code to create the toolpath trajectories for Additive Manufacturing. In addition, the RoboDK extension in ESPRIT simplified communication between systems and made it easier for end-users. Overall, FORCE Technology completed the MRO application using digital twin and post-processing to improve weld quality and waste reduction. The Manufacturing Academy Denmark (MADE) provided the financial backing to make this project successful.

How Robotic Simulation with RoboDK Can Help Alleviate Sustainability Concerns

Companies can reduce their carbon footprint by repairing large components with defects or damage compared to manufacturing a complete new part.

Ivar Dale, Additive Manufacturing Specialist at FORCE Technology, mentions:

The project was a big step stone towards making gear repair more standard and achieving the required guarantee of quality and confidence to put repaired gears back into service from the gear manufacturers. We successfully achieved the identical hardness of the original teeth on the gear as printed.

RoboDK’s simulation and offline programming tools can also reduce production downtime caused by shop floor programming. Companies can test a robot’s abilities in a virtual environment with RoboDK.

Furthermore, Dale continues:

Using the path planner additive solution from ESPRIT/Hexagon, and the post-processor from RoboDK we saved a tremendous amount of time to program the path with a 1mm positive offset as the shape of the tooth was organic. This saves us time in printing, especially in larger repairs, but it also saves the gear manufacturer time as the material we add is very hard and every mm takes time to carefully CNC.

Improve Your Laser Welding Initiatives with RoboDK Industrial Simulator

RoboDK is an economically intelligent, highly effective industrial robotics and robot programming simulator. It eliminates the need for shop floor programming and optimizes robot paths to avoid singularities, axis limits, and collisions. Due to its innovative design, coding experience isn’t necessary.

By combining RoboDK with another system, such as the ESPRIT, Hexagon’s “Hybrid” CAM, companies can develop sustainable production processes. It reduces energy consumption and waste generated from their operations.

Using RoboDK’s simulation and offline programming tools helps companies reduce production costs and downtime. Moreover, it minimizes hazardous materials produced in production cycles. These advantages make RoboDK an invaluable tool for companies looking to reduce their environmental impact. In addition, if your business is committed to sustainability, then RoboDK can help you achieve your goals.

Combining RoboDK with other software solutions allows businesses to develop sustainable production processes. This will help ensure that the company is committed to tackling sustainability concerns and can be confident that its production processes align with the latest industry standards. To take advantage of the benefits of robotic simulation with RoboDK, visit our website. Check out the blogs and other resources, and explore the range of features available.

Have you ever combined technologies to improve your company’s carbon footprint? 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 Gear Repair Collaboration with RoboDK appeared first on RoboDK blog.

Debugging is a vital part of any programming task. This is certainly true with programs that will interact with the physical world like those used to control CNC machines, 3D printers, and robotics.

Any mistake in the programming of these physical machines could cause real damage to the environment, the machine itself, and even to human workers in the case of some robots.

G-Code simulation is probably the best way to ensure that you have written your program to a high standard. Although very few people these days write G-Code by hand — we tend to use CAM programs — there is still a huge benefit to checking your program in a simulator before loading it into your physical machine.

Here is a list of some of the best types of G-Code simulator that you can use these days.

What is a G-Code Simulator?

A G-Code simulator is a type of software tool that provides a virtual representation of a CNC machine’s tool path made by following the instructions in a G-Code file. They range from simple simulators that output a single image of the tool path to complex tools that can detect collisions and plot the path in 3D.

The basic purpose of a G-Code simulator is to give you a way to see how the machine tool will move. Without this, the only way to debug your program is to test it out on the machine itself… and by then it’s too late to avoid disaster.

G-Code simulators have experienced a resurgence in popularity over recent years thanks to the rise of 3D printing. Hobbyists and professionals alike need a way to see a 3D printed item before they spend hours printing it. A good simulator provides a quick and easy way to achieve this.

The 5 Best G-Code Simulators for Machining and 3D Printing

There are quite a few options for simulating your G-Code out there. Some of them are okay, others are a waste of time.

Here are 5 types of G-Code simulator that are all good in some situations. Which you pick depends on your unique needs for this machining or 3D printing application:

1. Stand-alone G-Code Simulator

There are some simple software tools available that will quickly simulate your G-Code file and show you the path. In general, they don’t interface with CNC machines or 3D printers, but they at least give you the confidence that your program “draws the shapes” that it’s supposed to.

Some notable examples include:

• NC Viewer a handy online tool for quick visualization.
• CAMotics an open-source simulator for 3-axis machining.
• G-Code Q’n’dirty another open-source web tool.

2. Slicer Software (for 3D printing)

If you are using G-Code to program a 3D printer, your Slicer software may be able to give you a visualization of what the final printed item will look like.

A Slicer is a software tool that turns your CAD model into G-Code.

For example, RoboDK users often use the free tool Slic3er when they are using robotic 3D printing. This tool allows them to visualize the item that they are going to print before they send it to the robot.

Slic3r can also perform some of the functions of a dedicated G-Code simulator, such as estimating the time it will take to print the object and repairing incomplete 3D files.

3. RoboDK for Robotic Machining and 3D Printing

If you are considering using a robot for your machining or 3D printing, probably the best option is RoboDK (of course, we would say that, wouldn’t we?… but it’s also true).

RoboDK’s machining and printing wizard works with G-Code.

You can load a G-Code file into the software then easily simulate the path. Then, with the same software, you can send the program directly to the robot’s controller, without having to do any robot programming at all!

Not familiar with robotic machining? Check out our introductory post.

Didn’t know robots could do 3D printing? Here’s a video:

4. Libraries (e.g. MATLAB or Python)

There are some situations where you might want to perform some more advanced analysis on your G-Code or link with your own programming. Perhaps you are using the code as part of a research project or you are developing your own 3D printer.

In such cases, it could be helpful to use a G-Code library for your preferred programming language.

For example:

• G-Code Reader is an extension for MATLAB.
• PyCNC is a library for Python.
• Gsim is an open-source 2D simulator written in Python.

5. Your Favorite CAM Package

Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) programs are how many of us generate our G-Code files in the first place.

Popular CAM packages (which also include plugins for RoboDK) include:

• MasterCAM
• Inventor
• Fusion 360

Many of the leading CAM packages also have the capacity to simulate your G-Code. Often, if you want to link the software directly with your CNC machine or 3D printer, it will require you to purchase an extra add-on license, so weigh up the pros and cons beforehand. However, simple simulation can usually be achieved within the CAM software itself.

How to Pick the Best Software for You

There are clearly several ways to simulate G-Code!

But, which is going to be the best software for you? The answer depends on your situation.

If you are a hobbyist who is just using G-Code to program your home 3D printer, for example, one of the open-source, stand-alone simulators or Slicer software will probably be the best option.

If you are a researcher or programmer looking to delve deep into the simulation, one of the MATLAB or Python libraries might be worth checking out.

Finally, if you are working in industry, however, you will want a piece of software that is easy to use, robust and won’t give you any unnecessary headaches. For robotic machining or 3D printing, RoboDK is a good option. For all other CNC, look at a decent CAM package.

What questions do you have about G-Code simulation? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or in the RoboDK Forum.

The post The 5 Best G-Code Simulators for Machining and 3D Printing appeared first on RoboDK blog.

When you’re 3D printing with a robot, your software workflow can have an important impact on your productivity. If you can shave even a few minutes off the workflow, over time this could translate into quite a lot of extra productivity.

The time that it takes you to switch between different software packages is usually short, but it makes your workflow less smooth and, as a result, can make additive manufacturing less efficient.

Researchers from Portugal and Norway recently developed an application to streamline RoboDK’s additive manufacturing workflow even further via the RoboDK API.

Meet the Researchers

This engineering application was developed for a study by researchers Filipe Monteiro Ribeiro and J. Norberto Pires from the University of Coimbra, Portugal, and Amin S. Azar from SINTEF — Norway’s leading center for manufacturing research.

The study, titled “Implementation of a robot control architecture for additive manufacturing applications“ was published earlier this year in the journal Industrial Robot.

What Were the Researchers Trying to Achieve?

RoboDK is a great way to add robotics to additive manufacturing. We’ve already seen people use it for printing a diverse array of objects, including 3D printed concrete structures, 3D printed art, and 3D printed food.

The 3D printing workflow is already quite good in RoboDK — you simply generate the GCODE with a slicer software (commonly the open source Slic3r) and then load the resulting path into RoboDK.

However, the team of researchers identified that RoboDK alone does not provide the most streamlined workflow possible. Their study outlines a program they developed to directly combine the capabilities of RoboDK and Slic3r without having to manually move G-code files between the two programs.

To achieve this, the team developed a graphical program using Python and the RoboDK API.

The goals for this study were:

• To develop an additive manufacturing simulation — This is particularly easy with RoboDK, which provides an intuitive environment for robot simulation. The team also added a simple Python program to simulate the deposition of 3D printed material, as this is not something that RoboDK currently simulates itself.
• To allow for offline simulation of robots — According to the researchers, this was an essential part of their application as using a virtual environment reduced the risk of damage to a real robot. RoboDK makes it very easy to turn the simulated robot program into code for the real robot via its numerous post-processors.
• Asynchronous operation — It was important for the team that the program they created did not interfere with the operation of the simulated robot in RoboDK. For example, the simulation should continue running when the program was loading a new model into Slic3r. This is easy to achieve using our robolink Python module, which provides an asynchronous link between RoboDK and any Python program.

The resulting program sits between Slic3r and RoboDK and coordinates the additive manufacturing process.

What Did the Study Demonstrate?

The team’s application made very good use of RoboDK’s capabilities. In particular they demonstrated how effective it can be to use the API to combine parts of your own workflow.

The RoboDK API is a very powerful part of RoboDK, but it is not used by many of our users. This is unfortunate as it can help to significantly improve the smoothness of your robot programming workflow. It supports several programming languages, but the Python library that the researchers used is particularly easy to use — assuming, of course, that you like the Python programming language (and why wouldn’t you? It’s such an easy language!).

The Advantage of Asynchronous Operation

One of the key aspects in the study was the asynchronous operation. It was important for the team to ensure that no part of the program would stop the operation of another part of the program.

RoboDK already runs in an asynchronous manner — you can run multiple Python scripts at the same time and they won’t interfere with each other — but the team needed their own program to also have this asynchronous capability.

For example, they did not want their program to “hang” when waiting for Slic3r to finish generating GCODE. They needed to be able to control the robot while the program was doing other things. They achieved this with the asyncio library for Python which is a popular option for concurrent programming.

How to Improve Your Own Workflow With the API

Although the study was performed by robotics researchers, don’t think that this means that programming with the RoboDK API is complicated. Even if you’re not a programming wizard, you can easily use the API yourself.

If you want to develop your own program to boost your workflow, you can follow the following steps:

1. Become familiar with the API via the documentation page. Read about its capabilities and think about what you could use it for in your application.
2. Plan what parts of your application you will code in the external program.
3. Create your program using the API to interact with RoboDK.
4. Test your program before integrating it into your process.

Of course, you don’t need to write your own code to improve your workflow. You could also use the RoboDK plugins for programs such as SolidWorks which also streamline the workflow when you are using other programs in conjunction with RoboDK.

But, as the team of researchers showed, the API can be very effective in smoothing out disparate parts of your workflow for software that does not already have a plugin.

Remember, even shaving a few minutes off your programming process could lead to extra productivity in the long term.

What could you achieve by using the API in your process? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or in the RoboDK Forum.

The post Case Study: Improving the Additive Manufacturing Workflow appeared first on RoboDK blog.

“After some years using the desktop 3D printers,” says Ascan Aldag, “I wanted to go bigger.”

Aldag is an engineer who is pushing the boundaries of 3D printing. His latest project uses robotics and a custom-built extruder to make artistic creations for interior design.

Here’s how he is making his products supersized with RoboDK and robotic 3D printing.

Pushing The Boundaries Of 3D Printing

Many of us have only recently got started with 3D printing and have only recently started to see the benefits of it for our businesses. But, there are some pioneers who have been experimenting with 3D printing for years.

Engineer Ascan Aldag, the brains behind Engineering Art and Goal Engineering, is one such pioneer. Instead of using the printed parts only to print small proof-of-concepts (as many users do) he uses the printers to produce interior design products with complex geometries.

“For a long time, I have been dealing with 3D printers and am fascinated by the new possibilities.”

His most impressive designs use semi-transparent plastics to print intricate lampshades, such as Eos, Erebos, and Medusa. These are not just your average lampshade. Hyperion, for example, is made of several components which are stuck together by magnets. This allows the lampshade to be reconfigured into 48 million combinations.

A Need to Go Bigger

For years, Aldag has used tabletop 3D printers. These have yielded some impressive results, but he was starting to feel restricted by their limitations.

He told us:

“After some years using the desktop 3D-printers, I wanted to go bigger. The parts must become larger and stronger to allow everyday use.

“I was always fascinated by industrial robots — a lot of power combined with precision — so I got a used ABB 2400 and put it in my workshop to build a giant 3D-printer.”

With RoboDK and his industrial robot, he was able to start printing larger parts.

But, he soon ran into a problem…

Overcoming the Challenge of Low-Print Speeds

The problem with many desktop 3D printers is that they are quite slow. This is a good thing if you want to print in high-detail. However, it can become a problem when you’re scaling up for robotic 3D printing with large workpieces.

Ascan Aldag encountered this problem as soon as he stuck an extruder onto the end of the robot arm. The print speed of the extruder was restrictively slow.

His solution? Design a new extruder which could handle faster print speeds and use plastic granulate.

He told us:

“Normal extruders use expansive filament and can only extrude 100g/hour. A large print would need days. With my granulate extruder, I can directly use plastic granulate and extrude up to 2kg/hour, large prints are done in some hours.

I am using nozzles of between 1-3mm, so I can’t print small details but I can print fast and the 3D-prints are really strong.”

This is not the first time our users have built their own extruders. We’ve also seen custom extruders for 3D printing concrete and for 3D printing food.

Control Problems and a RoboDK Post-processor Solution

Aldag built his new extruder, but his challenges were not over yet. In fact, they had only just begun. There are a lot of moving parts in a 3D printer, literally.

“Getting the extruder working really was a challenge. I experimented with different motors, gears, temperatures, and speeds.”

What made it more challenging was the complex control needed for his new extruder. The robot controller needed to synchronize the extrusion speed with the movements of the robot.

But, help was at hand. He told us:

“Fortunately, I could adapt the RoboDK post processor to my needs – with excellent support from RoboDK…thanks!”

It’s very easy to add a custom end effector to RoboDK. In fact, it’s just as easy as using an off-the-shelf end effector. We outlined the process in our article The 5 Minute Guide to Use Any End Effector with RoboDK.

Once you have added the model, you can do exactly what Aldag did and update the post-processor. Not familiar with post processors? Check out Robot Post-Processors: Everything You Need to Know

What the Future Holds for 3D Printed Art

With the extruder working perfectly, he is now able to build pieces with a print size of over 1m³.

As he says, with such a big print size “only our imagination is the limit.”

But, Ascan Aldag’s pioneering ideas don’t stop there. He has big plans for the future.

His next idea? To tackle environmental sustainability.

“I have a vision” he says “of using plastic waste, like bottles, put it in a shredder and use the material to make new parts, like a chair for your home.”

At the moment, the granulate he is using is made of ABS and PLA granulate, the two standard materials for 3D printing. This next step will involve using recycled plastic.

He says:

“Everybody knows about the problems with plastic waste, especially in the oceans, but nobody has a good solution. But plastic can be easily heated up and formed into new parts. It is perfect for recycling.

This can be done using the granulate extruder, since it can directly use plastic out of a shredder without any more processing in between.

How great would this be! Instead of throwing plastic away, you collect your plastic and make something new out of it. I am working to make it happen!”

You know? I think that’s the best idea I’ve heard all year!

Check out Ascan Aldag’s website here at Engineering Art (it’s in German, but the amazing photos can be understood in any language).

What would you print if size wasn’t a restriction? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or in the RoboDK Forum.

The post How to Supersize 3D Printed Art With a Robot appeared first on RoboDK blog.

What would you build with your robot if there were no limitations?

If the only limit to your designs was your imagination?

And the path from idea to final product was easy?

Robotic manufacturing has the ability to create designs that have never been possible in the past. Robots have an almost unlimited workspace — when coupled with external axes — and they’re able to approach the workpiece from almost any orientation.

But, although physical robots are capable of so much, there’s one thing that can limit the designs that you can produce: the software workflow which transforms your design from idea into robot program.

If your CAD/CAM package workflow is restricted, your ideas are restricted.

That’s why we love Rhino and its algorithmic modeler Grasshopper. It’s capable of producing an infinite array of impressive designs, from 3D printed architecture to intricate wedding rings.

With our plugin, you can turn your amazing Rhino designs into robot programs with ease.

Don’t know what Rhino is? Not familiar with the RoboDK plugin? Check out our previous article How to Use Rhino + RoboDK for Robot Programming

Here are 5 amazing things you can do by using Rhino and RoboDK together.

1. 3D Print Previously Impossible Structures

Rhino is very popular in the world of architecture and it’s easy to see why. Grasshopper’s algorithmic modeling allows architects to create structures which surpass what could ever have been imagined in the past.

The real power, however, comes when you combine this architectural design with another of Rhino’s most popular application areas: 3D printing. You can now 3D print structures which were previously impossible to build, using any material you like. You could build the structure out of plastic for a proof of concept. You could build it out of concrete and build the real structure itself. You could even build your structure out of food, if you wanted!

Robotic 3D printing expands this capability even further by removing the limits on print size and design complexity. We are no longer limited by the size of the 3D printer’s print bed. Last year saw some very impressive 3D printed buildings which would have been impossible using traditional construction methods.

2. Create Artistic Sculptures

Another group of creative people who use Rhino is artists. Rhino’s CAM plugins (e.g. RhinoCAM and MadCAM) have the ability to build artistic structures from a huge variety of materials using 3D models as the input.

When combined with RoboDK, this feature gives artists the ability to sculpt their designs in software and then use robot milling to machine the physical sculpture. This makes it much easier to make changes to the artistic design. In the past, artists might have had to spend hours, days, or weeks creating a whole new sculpture if they wanted to change something in the design.

3. Use Algorithms To Model Parts

One of the most powerful features of Rhino is its algorithmic modeler, Grasshopper. This allows you to design models and features using equations, instead of designing them with solid shapes, as is the case with traditional Computer Aided Design.

If the idea of building with equations sounds daunting to you, don’t worry. Grasshopper uses visual programming, which reduces the learning curve if you haven’t done much programming before. This also makes it a perfect companion to RoboDK’s visual interface.

As researchers Branco and Leitão explain, algorithmic modeling “allows the modeling of complex geometries that would pose challenges to a normal mouse-based approach.” They explain that algorithmic modeling is most useful in conjunction with CAD, which is why Grasshopper works so well with Rhino.

The real power of algorithmic programming is how easy it is to change your designs. By changing a single parameter, you can twist, scale, and translate your design quickly, easily, and in ways that would be impossible with traditional modeling. With RoboDK, you can then simulate the robot building your design before you send it to the real robot.

4. Reverse Engineer Products From Point Cloud Data

It’s not just your own designs that can improve with Rhino, you can also use it to “reverse engineer” existing designs.

Imagine you are using robot milling to sculpt a copy of a local statue for a client out of hard foam. The statue is not famous — like, say, the Venus de Milo — so there are no existing 3D models of it online.

No problem! With Rhino, you can take a 3D scan of the model and turn it into a model which the robot can print or sculpt.

Converting point cloud data into models is easy in Rhino because it uses NURBS modeling. This means it models the surface of objects instead of building objects out of connected geometric shapes. Here’s an example showing how one designer reverse engineered a sports shoe using this method.

Once you have extracted the model, you can quickly turn it into a robot milling path via the RoboDK plugin.

5. Use Images In Your Designs

What if you could easily incorporate images into your designs?

Imagine how much more inventive your products could be if you were able to draw, say, your client’s logo on the side of each product. This is already possible, to some extent, with RoboDK’s drawing capability, which turns SVG images into robot paths.

However, Rhino take this capability to the next level. Grasshopper’s “image sampler” allows you to extract data from practically any greyscale image and use it in your designs. For example, you could take a photo of your CEO’s face and use robot 3D printing to print a copy of it out of chocolate. Or, you could take photo of your company’s most famous product and use robot milling to cut the image into the concrete wall of your headquarters.

The possibilities are basically endless! This video shows how one designer used the image sampler to map a complex pattern onto the surface of a sphere. Imagine using that with robot machining…

6. Iterate Really Fast!!!

As I said at the beginning of this article, the biggest benefit of the RoboDK plugin for Rhino is the improvement it makes to your workflow. You can
quickly make changes in Rhino/Grasshopper and immediately send them to your robot program in RoboDK.

This allows you to iterate your designs very, very quickly. As computational designer Nono Martínez Alonso explains, fast iteration is already one of the biggest benefits of using Grasshopper. With RoboDK, this benefit is amplified.

You can now make quick changes in your design and test them in a robot simulation before you ever send the program to the real robot. This improves the uptime of the robot, reduces the chance of costly errors, and allows you to optimize the robot program quickly and efficiently.

So… what are you going to build next with Rhino and RoboDK?

What are your ideas? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or in the RoboDK Forum.

The post 6 Amazing Things You Can Do With Rhino and RoboDK appeared first on RoboDK blog.

3D Concrete Printing is opening up a world of almost endless possibilities for architects. Robots allow for structures to be printed in almost any shape with a very efficient use of materials.

But, just like any new technology there are challenges. Concrete is a difficult and fickle material to work with, especially when you need the resulting product to have good structural properties.

A group of researchers from the Danish Technological Institute are working to overcome the challenges of concrete printing and push the boundaries of what is possible with 3D printed concrete.

Introducing… the high-technology concrete laboratory

This latest research comes from the high-technology concrete laboratory, which opened at the Danish Technological Institute back in 2007.

This laboratory is devoted to exploring the possibilities of digital fabrication with concrete, including new production methods and forms. Their research uses a variety of tools, but is centered around two pieces of equipment:

1. A robot cell using a Fanuc R-2000iC/165F. This is a 6-axis industrial robot with 165kg payload and 2.6m reach, and one of many Fanuc models available in the RoboDK Robot Library.
2. A full-scale automated concrete mixing station, which the team uses to experiment with different mixes of concrete.

This type of research is necessary for 3D printed architecture to really reach the mainstream. As a review paper from 2016 found: “[Although] a few isolated products and projects have been preliminarily tested […] it should be noted that such tests and developments on the use of 3-D printing in the construction industry are very fragmented at the time of the study.”

The Danish Technological Institute works closely with industry to bring 3D printing technology into the construction industry. We first introduced the team’s work back in 2017, but they have been making progress since then.

The 5 Challenges of 3D Concrete Printing

The big challenge with 3D printed architecture is the material itself: concrete. If you’ve ever worked with concrete before, you’ll know that it can be a complex material. Its setting time is affected by a whole host of changeable factors, including temperature, humidity, and components. If the concrete mix is not perfect, the structure will not be as strong as it needs to be and it could fail.

Here are 5 challenges that the researchers are trying to overcome, as they explained in a 2018 paper:

1. Balancing Stability and Flow

3D Concrete Printing needs to exist in two different states, which have completely opposite properties.

Before it is extruded, the concrete needs to be easy to pump and achieve a consistent flow. After extrusion, the concrete needs to be stable and strong enough to support further layers of material.

2. Maintaining Workability

The workability of the wet concrete is the key to good printing. Although concrete takes a long time to harden, it quickly loses workability as soon as it is mixed. Additives like water reducing admixtures need to be added to the mix to maintain the required workability.

3. Little or No Deformation After Extrusion

3D printing involves building up layers of material one by one. Each layer is supported by the strength of the previous layer. This is a problem with wet concrete, which tends to “slump” when weight is put on top of it. The team uses a special no-slump concrete mix which can withstand the weight of the layers above, but this introduces more challenges as no-slump concrete can be difficult to pump and prone to cracking.

4. Finely Controlled Setting Times

It is vital that the team are able to precisely match the speed of the robotic 3D printer with the setting time of the concrete, reaching a “set of demand state”. The robot needs to move the printing nozzle at a precise speed. It needs to move fast enough that the layer below does not set too much — which would jeopardize the structure’s stability — but slow enough that the lower levels can hold the new concrete’s weight without collapsing.

5. Avoid Filament Cracking Around Corners

The travel speed of the nozzle is particularly important when the robot is moving around a corner. The movement around corners needs to be quick, which can cause cracking in the print “filament” (the layer of concrete). For this reason, the team’s latest development is a special nozzle which can be turned in tandem with the robot arm. 

How the Team Used RoboDK for 3D Printing Concrete

The team’s special printing nozzle is the focus of their latest research. RoboDK was instrumental in programming this new end-effector.

Researcher Wilson Ricardo Leal da Silva explained the setup to us:

“We made a 5-axis print late last year, using code generated in Grasshopper. The goal was to test the nozzle. RoboDK was quite handy to simulate and adjust the robot path.

“We made a simple structure design so we could test the tool-path generated using Rhino — with the RoboDK plugin — and the custom python script we use to control the nozzle via a PLC controller.”

The Key to Success: An Incorporated Workflow

The key to success in the team’s application was their integration with Rhino and its algorithmic modeler Grasshopper.

RoboDK has a dedicated plugin for Rhino which makes it easy to integrate both of these into a combined workflow. We introduced the plugin last year in the article How to Use Rhino + RoboDK for Robot Programming.

Grasshopper is a very popular tool in 3D printing as it makes it easy to create complex shapes via an intuitive visual programming language. With the integrated workflow, the team were able to create their architectural forms using the best tool for the job, then easily export the path to RoboDK and download it to their robot cell.

With the power of advanced concrete mixing and RoboDK, the options for future 3D printed concrete projects are almost limitless. We look forward to seeing what the team at the Danish Technological Institute come up with next!

How could you use Grasshopper/Rhino in your applications? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or in the RoboDK Forum.

The post Researchers Tackle the 5 Challenges of 3D Concrete Printing appeared first on RoboDK blog.

2018 was a momentous year for 3D printed architecture.

In previous years, we have seen various research applications of 3D printing technology — such as the RoboDK-powered concrete 3D printing we demonstrated last year. In 2018,  however, it seems that 3D printed buildings changed from being “a nice idea” to being a real viable building process.

Here are 10 of the most impressive and breakthrough building projects from the past year.

1. First Residents Move Into a 3D Printed House

Possibly the most momentous occasion happened back in July of this year. The Yhnova project made history when the first residents moved into a 3D printed house in Nantes, France.

Instead of using concrete as a printing medium, as many robot printers do, the structure of the house was printed with a hard insulating foam, using the BatiPrint3D technology. Concrete was added between the layers of foam to improve its strength. This produced a very affordable house with good protection from the cold. It took only 54 hours to print, then took 4 months for contractors to fit the windows, doors, and roof fixtures.

2. Low-cost 3D Printed House for $4000

Affordability is one of the huge benefits of 3D printing. Houses are built quicker at less cost. This is certainly the vision for the NewStory construction printer, which reached prototype stage back in March of this year.

Silicon Valley startup ICON aims to use their new printer to produce houses at just $4000 each. The team also received $9 million in seed funding this October.

3. 3D Printed Metal Bridge

It’s not just buildings which are being built by 3D printing. This October, Dutch Robotics company MX3D (developers of several groundbreaking robotic additive manufacturing projects) finished printing a steel bridge using six-axis industrial robots.

3D printed bridge in the Netherlands. Photo via dezeen.com.

The project was first proposed back in 2015 and the bridge has gone through a few different iterations since then. The original plan was to build it on-site but this idea was deemed too dangerous.

The building phase is now complete and the bridge will be installed across a canal in Amsterdam in 2019.

4. US Military 3D Prints Concrete Barracks

Another first was achieved in September this year, this time by the US military. They managed to achieve something which the MX3D bridge did not: build a structure in-situ. Captain Friedell said “People have printed buildings and large structures, but they haven’t done it on-site and all at once. This is the first-in-the-world on-site continuous concrete print.”

Usually, it takes 10 marines 5 days to build a barracks out of wood. With the 3D printer, they were able to build a 46 square meter concrete barracks in less than 2 days.

5. Historic Russian Fountain is Restored with 3D Printing

3D printing is not reserved for new building projects. It can also be used to repair existing structures. That’s exactly what it was used for in the city of Palekh, Russia in October this year.

Using a giant construction printer (rather than a robot) from AMD-SPECVIA, the project was the first large-scale 3D printed water fountain in the world. The restoration was on the historical Sheaf fountain by sculptor Nikolai Vasilyevich Dydykin.

6. Swarm Robots Build Together

Of course, not every 3D printed project is at its final build stage. there is still a lot of pioneering research being done into 3D printing with robots.

This October, a team from Nanyang University presented an innovative approach to 3D printing concrete called “Swarm Printing.”

Instead of using a single, fixed robot to print the concrete — as we have seen in the past — the team mounted concrete extruders onto two mobile robots which work collaboratively to build intricate structures. This could lead the way for large-scale building printing projects, allowing mobile robots to work together and further reduce the time to build.

7. Sand Printed Houses

As you can see from the previous examples, one of the most exciting aspects of these new 3D printers is the variety of different materials that can be printed with them. We are not just limited to basic concrete mixes, all manner of materials can be used to build weird and wonderful structures.

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3D printed ceiling in Zurich. Photo via dezeen.com.

In August, a research team from ETH Zurich university combined 3D printing and sand-casting to produce a stunning concrete ceiling. The process involved printing the complex shape of the ceiling using layers of sand, then using this sand as a mold to produce a second, negative mold. This negative mold was then sprayed with glass-fiber-reinforced concrete to produce the final ceiling. Although the team could have printed the concrete directly, their method allowed for much better strength with more intricate details thanks to the addition of glass fiber.

8. 3D Knitted Pavilion

ETH Zurich was clearly “on a roll” this year as they also pioneered another 3D printing technology for architectural projects. Well… not 3D “printing” exactly. More 3D knitting.

In November 2018, they programmed knitting machines to form the shape of a complex pavilion. The team then flew to Mexico City with the knitted forms in their suitcases. When they arrived, they suspended the knitted sheets and covered them with concrete to form a unique structure.

9. First Concrete Printing at Any Angle

Although it is a very flexible process, 3D printing can be limiting. In particular, you are limited by the fact that you have to build one layer on top of the previous one.

In September, a new technique was developed by researchers from the Centre for Information Technology and Architecture in Denmark. Instead of printing on a flat print bed, the team used an industrial robot to print concrete onto a curved, vertical wire mesh. The concept, called SCRIM, could lead the way to very complex new shapes in architecture.

10. 3D Printed Buildings in Space

There really is only one news story I can use to wrap up this post… with a vision for the future. In July, five teams won in NASA’s 3D Printed Habitat Competition which was launched in 2015. The aim of the challenge was to created digital representations of what 3D printed structures would look like on the surface of Mars.

It looks like 3D printed architecture is not just a worldwide phenomenon. It’s also out of this world!

For information on how to achieve 3D printing with RoboDK — with concrete or any other material — check out our previous articles on 3D printing.

What building would you like to see 3D printed? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or in the RoboDK Forum.

The post The 10 Most Impressive 3D Printed Buildings from 2018 appeared first on RoboDK blog.

Think about how you manufacture parts right now.

There are many steps, aren’t there? One cell turns the raw material into usable workpieces. Another cell cuts out the rough shape of the part, then completes the fine machining. Yet another cell performs surface finishing. In the end, your workfloor is packed full of machines, which leads to your operators running around all over the place in an attempt to keep up.

Wouldn’t it be useful if you had just one cell to complete all of these stages?

This is the question that a group of researchers decided to address in a recent project proposal for the EU’s Horizon 2020 funding program.

Introducing… HYROMAN

HYROMAN was the name of a proposal for an EU project that was submitted in 2017.

The EU (European Union) organizes its funding of research projects into rounds. The current round is called Horizon 2020 and, so far, there have been over 600,000 applications submitted over the last 5 years (of which just 3% were funded).

HYROMAN stands for HYbrid RObotic MANufacturing. The idea behind the project is to develop a platform which can achieve all manufacturing stages within one robotic cell.

The project proposal explained that HYROMAN “intends to build a disruptively innovative manufacturing system that enables agile and cost effective production.”

The HYROMAN Platform

The core of the proposed project is the “HYROMAN platform” which “is an advanced robotic system … to minimize the production time, shop-floor space, and required capital expenditure.”

This combines three core manufacturing steps into a single cell:

1. Additive Manufacturing — Rather than working from pieces of metal, the cell would use a “deposition tool” (3D printing) to build up the rough form of the part. An extruder tool would be attached as the robot end effector to complete this stage.
2. Subtractive Manufacturing — Next, a second robot within the cell would use a machining tool to remove excess material from the part.
3. Transformative Manufacturing — Finally, the second robot would switch its machining tool for a surface treatment end effector. This would be used to transform the microstructure of the part surface and bring it up to final quality.

It would actually be possible to complete all three of these stages with a single robot. However, additive manufacturing takes a lot longer than the other two steps so it makes sense to use two robots. Perhaps it might even make sense to use multiple robots for the 3D printing stage to increase the overall throughput of the cell.

How HYROMAN Uses RoboDK

One thing that makes HYROMAN such a good idea is its use of RoboDK as a programming platform. RoboDK makes it very easy to achieve all three of the programming steps within the same environment.

For their proposal, the team used the software to build a simulation of the first stage of the cell (the 3D printing). To do this, they used the 3D printing wizard. However, this is only the beginning. With RoboDK’s integrated programming wizards, all three of the stages are easy to achieve.

Here’s how the team at HYROMAN can use the same software for additive, subtractive, and transformative manufacturing:

Additive Manufacturing — 3D Printing Wizard

The first step is to 3D print the rough shape of the part using additive manufacturing.

RoboDK’s 3D printing wizard allows you to easily turn a CAD model into a sequence of robot instructions. It requires a GCODE file as input, which can be generated by the free software Slic3r.

There are many possibilities for 3D printing. Recently, we reported on a team that is using RoboDK to 3D print food. We’ve also seen concrete 3D printing for architectural applications.

See the following example of 3D printing in RoboDK, and check out the documentation page for practical instructions.

Subtractive Manufacturing — Robot Machining Wizard

The second step is to machine the fine details of the part using robot-compatible machine tools.

RoboDK’s Machining Wizard follows a very similar process to 3D printing. It uses either GCODE as input or another type of NC file. However, instead of adding material, the tool is used to remove material.

For details on how robot machining can help your business, read our article How Robot Machining Can Simplify Your Life.

See the following example of Robot Machining in RoboDK, and check out the documentation page for practical instructions.

Transformative Manufacturing — Curve Follow Wizard

The final step is to perform surface treatment, to improve the material properties of the final product (e.g. to improve wear resistance, solderability, corrosion resistance, etc).

The exact motion of the robot will depend on the specific method of surface treatment. However, many methods will require the robot to move in either a curved path or to move to individual points. For this, RoboDK’s Curve Follow and Point Follow Wizards will be most useful.

These motions make the surface finishing applications quite similar to inspection or painting tasks, which you can find about in our article The Manufacturer’s Guide to Robotic Inspection.

See the following example of a Curve Follow task (painting) in RoboDK, and check out the documentation page for practical instructions.

How You Can Improve Your Process with RoboDK

HYROMAN is a great idea. However, you don’t need to perform all three of the manufacturing tasks within the same robotic cell to see the benefits. You can improve your processes by implementing just one of the tasks.

Which of the three tasks would be most useful for your business? (i.e. robotic 3D printing, robotic machining, or robotic surface finishing).

Pick the one which makes sense to you and use the links above to learn more.

What could you achieve with an all-in-one manufacturing cell? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or in the RoboDK Forum.

The post Is This the Only Manufacturing Cell You’ll Ever Need? appeared first on RoboDK blog.

At first glance, 3D printed food might seem quite an impractical application. 3D printing takes ages, doesn’t it? It can take hours to print even a tiny object. Who has the time to wait hours for a robot to print you a pizza!?

And yet, 3D printed food is becoming quite popular. It allows chefs to make complex and intricate food shapes like never before. You can even 3D print food with a robot, as one of our RoboDK users did.

It looks like 3D printed food will be part of the future of high-end gastronomy. According to the annual 3D Printing Conference, supermarkets are already testing 3D print customized cakes and restaurants are offering 3D printed desserts. People have successfully 3D printed a whole range of different foods, including mushroom, chocolate, red pepper, spaghetti, and pizza.

Case Study: 3D Food Printing With RoboDK

Here, you can see a video of a project perfomed The Hebrew University of Jerusalem where RoboDK was used to control a  UR3 Universal Robot for 3D printing.

The setup included a syringe extruder (see below for more information on these) which printed the liquid food into intricate shapes. The food then set into a solid gel and sauces were added by hand.

How 3D Printed Food Works

The principle of 3D printing food is fundamentally the same as printing any other material. It is an additive manufacturing process where the material is built up layer-by-layer. The thick liquid material is extruded in a small stream onto a printing bed and a robot moves the extruder around the printing bed to draw the desired shape of the current layer. Once that layer has set, the next layer begins.

The most common materials for 3D printing are ABS and PLA plastic. These have good melting and hardening properties. As a result, the printed objects have very similar material properties to the raw material.

One of the challenges of food printing is that food does not have reliable material properties. Different foods melt at different temperatures, heat changes their material properties, and they are subject to spoilage.

Engineers have come up with various ingenious methods for extruding food. Three common methods are:

• Syringe extruders — This is the method used in the video. It involves loading the liquid-paste food into a capsule which is loadied into a large syringe. The extruder can gradually push the liquid out. The method works with a whole range of different foodstuffs from mashed potato to bread dough.
• Melting extruders — These work in a similar way to the plastic extruders in normal (i.e. non-food) 3D printers. They take solid foodstuffs — usually chocolate — and melt them before printing through a heated extruder. The MMuse Chocolate 3D printer is one example.
• Granular material binding — This involves using grains of food — usually sugar — and binding them together in the desired pattern by selectively melting and recrystallizing the material using heat and water. In this way, it is closer to stereolithographic printing than additive printing. The ChefJet 3D printer is probably the best example. It can print amazing full-color structures from sugar.

In most cases, you will use a syringe extruder if you want to print food. They are compatible with the most diverse range of foodstuffs and are easy to build and use.

5 Components You Need to 3D Print Food With a Robot

If you want to replicate the 3D food printing success from the video, you will need a few different components.

1. The Robot — Theoretically, you could use any size of robot for 3D printing food. It all depends on how big your food needs to be. Tiny robots (e.g. Meca500 or UR3) can produce small edible decorations, while larger robots could potentially build a full-sized gingerbread house (if you had a big enough oven, of course).
2. An Extruder — The type of extruder will depend on which foodstuff you are printing. Syringes are the most versatile.
3. A Printing Material — The food! You will have to process the food so that it is printable by the machine. This usually means making it a thick liquid paste so that it can be dispensed by the syringe. If you want the food to set into a jelly-like solid, you will need to add some sort of hydrocolloid (here’s my favorite hydrocolloid recipe collection).
4. A 3D Model — You will need a digital model of the pattern that you want to print. This should be in a CAD format which will be converted into a 3D printing path by your software.
5. A Software Solution — You can make life easy for yourself by picking the best software solution for the job. RoboDK includes a 3D printing wizard which automatically generates a robot path for any robot.

Flavor: The Most Important Component

Pretty food is all very well. However, your decoration will be worth nothing if your food doesn’t taste great.

In fact, I would go one step further. I would say that your 3D printed food has to taste even better than great. It needs to taste absolutely amazing!

There’s nothing more disappointing than a spectacularly-decorated meal that tastes bland.

Food Ink was the first pop-up restaurant to serve all 3D printed food. You can bet that they spent just as long making the food taste amazing as they did designing the 3D printing patterns. It takes a lot of experimentation to get the right balance between flavor, texture and design.

How to 3D Print Food With RoboDK

If you want to print food with a robot for yourself, the process is very similar to normal 3D printing with a robot.

Check out our 3D printing demonstration to see how easy it is to do with RoboDK.

Then, go to the relevant documentation pages for instructions on how you can achieve it for yourself.

Would you eat a meal that was 3D printed by a robot? Tell us in the comments below or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or in the RoboDK Forum.

The post Would You Eat Robot 3D Printed Food? appeared first on RoboDK blog.

Rhino (also known as Rhinoceros or Rhino 3D) is one of the most popular Computer Aided Design (CAD) packages in some industries. Designers and engineers use it to create complex and beautiful product designs with its unique approach to freeform surface modeling.

We’ve just launched the RoboDK plugin for Rhino!

The plugin will be a huge benefit to you if you’re a designer who already works with Rhino and you want an easy way to get into robot machining, 3D printing, or any other robot-based process. It will also be useful for you if you do not yet use Rhino but you are considering it as your CAD package of choice.

In this article, we’ll introduce Rhino and RoboDK. We’ll also explain the top 5 advantages of using the two packages together and explain how you can get started.

What is Rhino?

Rhino is a CAD software which is widely used in industries like architecture, product design, industrial design, jewelry design, and more.

Its unique ability is that it is a highly-accurate freeform surface modeler which uses NURBS.

What does that mean? Let me explain.

CAD systems generally use one of two methods for describing objects:

• Polygonal modeling, which makes objects out of a mesh of polygons (e.g. cubes, cones, spheres). The size of each polygon determines the smoothness of the object’s surface. A low-polygon model has a similar look to a photograph with a low number of pixels, i.e: when you zoom in to it, it looks fuzzy.
• Freeform surface modeling, which describes the surface of objects using curves. This makes the surface smooth no matter how much you zoom into it.

Rhino achieves its surface modeling with a mathematical model called NURBS (which stands for “Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline”, if you’re interested). However, you don’t need to understand the mathematics to get the advantages of Rhino.

As the team at Rhino explain, many freeform modeling software packages are not accurate enough for manufacturing. However, using NURBS allows Rhino to achieve a high level of accuracy, enough to match any other CAD software on the market.

What Applications Are Possible With Rhino?

Thanks to its accurate NURBS-based modeling, there are some applications which Rhino can excel at. For example:

• Machining — Gone are the days when CAD packages were only used for design. With the right packages, you can use the same software solution to design a product and generate machining paths. See our article How Robot Machining Can Simplify Your Life
• Sheet forming — Rhino’s surface modeling is perfect for modeling complex shapes for sheet material forming. Robotic incremental forming provides a method for producing such shapes.
• 3D Printing — Rhino is very popular in the 3D printing industry thanks to its ability to create complex shapes very easily using the visual programming language Grasshopper. This was previously a plugin but it was integrated for the first time as a core part of Rhino in March 2018.

What is RoboDK?

RoboDK is an offline programming software for industrial robots. It is used by professionals in many industries, including aeronautics, automotive, art and architecture, to name just a few application areas.

There are many benefits to using RoboDK. For example, if you work in a manufacturing environment, one of the biggest benefits is that the software allows you to program the robot without interrupting the production. This saves time and money. On the other hand, if you work in product design or architecture, the biggest benefit may be the ease-of-programming and the huge flexibility provided by using a robot to construct your prototypes.

RoboDK makes it very easy to turn CAD models into robot code. It supports over 300 robot models from over 30 manufacturers, which you can access in our Robot Library.

The new RoboDK plugin for Rhino allows you to easily use the powerful features of Rhino with the simplicity and dependability of RoboDK.

The 5 Advantages of Using Rhino With RoboDK

Here are the top advantages to using these two software packages together.

1. Robust and Reliable

The RoboDK plugin is not the only option available to Rhino users for controlling robots. The Food4Rhino plugin directory has a few options for controlling some robot models which vary wildly in terms of features, price, and reliability.

The two top advantages of our solution are robustness and reliability. The plugin is not just a stand-alone add-on, as some of the others are. It gives you access to all the features of RoboDK, which is a mature software with thousands of satisfied users.

2. You’re Not Alone

Support is paramount when using a new software. You need to know that someone has got your back if things get difficult. With RoboDK, you can get help quickly by posting your query on the RoboDK Forum or emailing us directly.

3. Versatile Modeling

Some call Rhino “the worlds most versatile modeler.” It certainly is used in an impressive set of industries, from shipbuilding to jewelry design. Combining it with RoboDK allows you to take full advantage of this versatility better than ever before. After all, robots are one of the most versatile manufacturing tools that have ever existed.

4. Design and Manufacture in One

Even before the new plugin existed, it was possible to export Rhino models to RoboDK. You could export the file to GCode (using the Slic3r plugin) and load this into RoboDK with its Machining Tool.

The new plugin, however, avoids this intermediary step. You can work seamlessly between the two programs. With robot machining, this means you can design and manufacture in a streamlined workflow.

5. Simulation Before Manufacture

A huge advantage of RoboDK in itself is that it allows you to simulate the robot program before you download it to the physical robot. This reduces the chance of costly errors and mistakes. You can manufacture your models directly from Rhino with RoboDK, safe in the knowledge that the robot will act as it’s supposed to.

How to Get Started With the RoboDK Plugin

The best way to start using the new Rhino plugin is to head on over to our Documentation Page “RoboDK plugin for Rhino”.

The documentation gives a step-by-step guide to installing, setting up, and using the plugin. The plugin also comes with an example project which demonstrates the basics of using the two programs together.

The post How to Use Rhino + RoboDK for Robot Programming appeared first on RoboDK blog.

Robotic 3D printing systems have become popular, mostly in construction and architecture. The creation of a 3D printed object is achieved using additive processes. In an additive process, an object is created by laying down successive layers of material until the object is created. Each of these layers can be seen as a thinly sliced horizontal cross-section of the eventual object.

As an example, the Danish Technological Institute uses RoboDK to program robots to build 3D Printed Buildings project. In a matter of days after getting started with RoboDK, Teknologisk Institut was building successful sample parts in concrete.

The workflow CAD-CAM with RoboDK was very straightforward. Thanks to RoboDK we were able apply our 3D concrete printing skills and the developed concrete mix design to our Fanuc robot for concrete 3D printing in a very short time.

Dr. Wilson Ricardo Leal da Silva
Civil Engineer at the Concrete Centre at the Danish Technological Institute

The Danish Technological Institute focuses on developing methods for robot-based 3D printing building elements, boosting innovation and productivity in construction. The project also focuses on unexplored architectural possibilities that 3D printing technology can deliver in construction.

© Danish Technological Institute

RoboDK simulation and offline programming tools can be easily used to convert machine code to robot programs. For manufacturing applications such as 3D printing or machining it is possible to integrate 3rd party software such as slicer software or CAM software with RoboDK and quickly accomplish successful results.

We’re looking forward to seeing how the 3D Printed Buildings project impacts the future of Danish construction!

© Danish Technological Institute

Learn how to simulate and program a robot arm for 3D printing: http://www.robodk.com/examples#examples-3Dprint

Do you have an industrial robot? We invite you to try RoboDK software now.

The post Concrete 3D Printing appeared first on RoboDK blog.