Guide to Cobot Programming for Manufacturers

Cobots have changed the way we manufacture and are becoming an integral part of many shops' processes.

But how difficult are they to use? Do you need programming knowledge? Is there a big learning curve?

These questions are on the minds of many shop owners as they consider integrating these innovative robots into their operations.

The good news is that cobots are designed to be user-friendly. With the right software or App, programming a cobot is straightforward and doesn’t require programming knowledge.

In this article, we'll dive into the essentials of cobot programming such as scripting and coding and lead-through teaching and the various approaches you can take to maximize your investment.

Key Differences Between Programming Cobots and Traditional Industrial Robots

• Ease of use: Teach pendants are common across all types of robots, including traditional industrial ones. The main difference with cobots is that some feature graphical interfaces, requiring less coding. This makes cobots easier to program and more accessible to operators without specialized knowledge.
  Some companies offer mobile app-based programming for cobots. These apps are easy to use and allow operators to create and manage tasks through intuitive smartphone or tablet interfaces.
  
  
• Safety features: Traditional industrial robots usually require safety cages or barriers to separate them from human operators. In contrast, cobots are equipped with advanced safety features that allow them to operate safely alongside human workers. By following proper risk assessment protocols, these safety features ensure that cobots can work harmoniously with humans, reducing the risk of accidents, improving overall workplace safety.

Cobot Programming Languages

To be able to customize cobot behavior and optimize their performance, an understanding of the different ways of programming is important. Let's explore some of the most common programming languages used in cobot programming.

Scripting and Coding

Scripting and coding allow you to customize cobot programming. This method involves writing code in specific programming languages designed for cobots.

Cobots can be programmed using various scripting languages that provide flexibility and control over their movements and tasks. These languages are designed to be accessible yet powerful, allowing users to implement complex instructions.

Examples of Tasks and Applications Requiring Scripting

• Custom motion paths: Scripting can be used to define intricate motion paths for tasks that require high precision.
  
  
• Integration with other systems: Scripts can facilitate communication between the cobot and other systems, such as databases or sensors.
  
  
• Complex decision-making: Advanced tasks that require conditional logic and decision-making processes require scripting to execute correctly.

Common Programming Languages

• Python: Python is one of the most widely used programming languages in cobot programming due to its simplicity and versatility. With it you can create complex scripts that manage various tasks with fewer lines of code compared to other languages, making it faster to learn and implement.
  
  
• C++: C++ is another is known for its performance and efficiency. It provides real-time performance capabilities, which are crucial for robotic applications that require precise timing and execution. Although it requires more lines of code and has a steeper learning curve compared to Python, its compatibility with hardware libraries make it a powerful tool for developing intricate robotic systems​​.
  
  
• Proprietary Languages: Many top industrial robot manufacturers, such as Universal Robots, develop their own proprietary programming languages tailored to their specific systems. For instance, URScript is a scripting language created by Universal Robots.
  
  URScript allows for precise control of robot movements and functions, allowing users to create highly customized programs. This language is integrated into the visual programming environment, allowing users to switch between graphical interfaces and script writing seamlessly.

Lead-Through Teaching

Lead-through programming, also known as hand-guiding, involves physically moving the cobot's arm through the desired positions and motions. This manual guidance, often facilitated by a teach pendant or direct manipulation of the robot's arm, allows the operator to define waypoints and motion paths that the cobot can later replicate autonomously.

Some advanced cobot systems may offer movement recording as an added feature, depending on the product and robot brand.

Advantages of Lead-Through Programming

• Intuitive and user-friendly: Lead-through teaching is intuitive, allowing operators to program the cobot without needing any coding skills. This method makes it accessible to workers who are familiar with the tasks but not with robotic programming.
  
  
• Real-time programming: Operators can see the cobot's movements in real-time, ensuring that the programmed path is accurate and feasible. This immediate feedback helps to fine-tune the cobot’s actions.

Cobot Programming Methods

There are several platforms used to program cobots, each offering unique advantages and capabilities. Let's explore some of these platforms to understand how they facilitate the use of cobots in various applications.

Teach Pendant

With teach pendant programming, you use a handheld device to control and program the cobot through its tasks. This method allows operators to interact directly with the robot, setting positions and defining actions step-by-step.

The device typically includes a display screen and a set of controls for jogging the robot's axes, recording positions, and inputting commands. By moving the cobot to specific points and recording these positions, operators can create a sequence of movements that the cobot will follow during operation.

Pros and Cons of Using Teach Pendants

Offline Programming and Simulation

Offline programming involves creating and testing cobot programs on a computer without needing the physical robot. This method uses specialized software to simulate the cobot's environment, movements, and tasks.

Once the program is developed and refined offline, it can be transferred to the cobot for execution. This approach allows for comprehensive planning and troubleshooting before deploying the cobot in the actual production environment.

Benefits of Using Simulation Software

• Efficiency: Offline programming allows for the development and testing of programs without interrupting the production line. This means that cobots can continue to work on their current tasks while new programs are being created and tested offline​​.
  
  
• Accuracy and precision: Simulation software provides a virtual environment where cobot movements and tasks can be fine-tuned with high precision. While accurate, adjustments are often needed so that the cobot performs accurately when the program is implemented in the real world​​.
  
  
• Cost-effective: Developing and testing programs offline reduces the wear and tear on the physical cobots and minimizes the risk of damage during the programming phase. It also saves costs associated with production delays and errors​​.
  
  
• Safety: Simulating cobot operations in a virtual environment helps identify and mitigate potential safety hazards before deploying the program. This ensures a safer workspace for human operators working alongside cobots​​.
  
  
• Flexibility and scalability: Offline programming allows for easy modifications and updates to the cobot's tasks. Programs can be scaled and adapted to different cobots or production lines without significant disruption​​.

Mobile Apps

Mobile app-based cobot programming leverages smartphone and tablet applications to create, modify, and manage cobot programs. While this technology is relatively new and unique, and available in only some market solutions, it brings significant advantages.

Often cloud-connected, these apps allow users to access cobots in real time from anywhere, change tasks, and debug operations. They also provide tracking and performance reporting features, allowing continuous monitoring and optimization of cobot activities.

Hirebotics’ created an intuitive mobile app called Beacon that allows you to teach your cobot how to perform different welds. With this app, users can easily set up and control cobots without any programming knowledge. The app has a user-friendly interface, real-time access to the cobot from any location, and performance tracking. Live chat support is built into the app, offering immediate assistance when needed.

Benefits of Using Mobile Apps for Programming Cobots

• Ease of use: Mobile apps are designed to be user-friendly, allowing operators to program cobots through simple touch interactions. This accessibility reduces the learning curve of a teach pendant and allows users with minimal technical expertise to program cobots.
  
  
• Portability and convenience: With a mobile app, users can program and monitor cobots from anywhere on the shop floor. This ability is particularly useful in dynamic production environments where you aren’t always in the one place.
  
  
• Real-time feedback: Many mobile apps provide real-time feedback on the cobot’s actions, allowing operators to make immediate adjustments and fine-tune the programming.
  
  
• Remote access and monitoring: Some mobile apps allow for remote access and monitoring of cobot operations. This allows operators to oversee and adjust cobot activities even when they are not physically present at the site. This feature is beneficial for managing multiple cobots across different locations​​.

Is Coding Required to Run Cobots?

Coding is necessary when tasks involve complex operations, custom applications, or integration with other systems.

For instance, if a cobot needs to perform intricate motion paths, conditional logic operations, or interact with external databases and sensors, scripting languages like Python or URScript are often used.

For tasks that do not require such complexity, many cobots come equipped with user-friendly options like teach pendant interfaces. These methods are designed to be intuitive, allowing operators with minimal technical expertise to program the cobots.

Using graphical user interfaces, operators can easily create and modify programs by selecting and arranging actions, which the cobot will then follow. This accessibility democratizes cobot programming, making it feasible for a wider range of users​​.

Industry Applications of Cobot Programming

Cobots are changing how various industries complete complex tasks, improving efficiency, and ensuring consistent quality. Let's explore how cobot programming is applied in metal fabrication, automotive manufacturing, and electronics assembly.

Metal Fabrication

Cobots have significantly impacted the metal fabrication industry by automating tasks such as welding, cutting, and material handling. These robots can handle high-precision jobs and repetitive tasks, improving productivity and reducing the risk of injuries associated with manual metalworking processes.

Cobots in Welding

In welding applications, cobots provide consistency and precision that are difficult to achieve manually. They can perform various welding tasks, including MIG, TIG, and spot welding, ensuring high-quality welds with minimal defects.

For example, Hirebotics' cobots are used in welding applications to increase production, reduce scrap and do more quality welds.

Cutting and Other Metalworking Tasks

Cobots are also used in cutting, deburring, and polishing metal components. They can be programmed to follow complex paths, ensuring accuracy and uniformity across all parts.

By automating these processes, manufacturers can achieve consistent quality and meet industry standards while freeing human workers to focus on more important tasks.

Automotive Manufacturing

The automotive industry has embraced cobots for their versatility and efficiency in various manufacturing processes. Cobots assist in welding, painting, and assembly, significantly improving production speed and product quality.

• Welding: Cobots are used for welding car body components, chassis, and other structural parts. They provide the precision and consistency needed to meet the high-quality standards of the automotive industry, ensuring strong and reliable welds.
  
  
• Painting:  Cobots offer precise control over spray patterns and paint thickness, resulting in a smooth and uniform finish. This automation reduces paint waste and ensures consistent quality, even for complex surfaces and designs.
  
  
• Assembly processes: Cobots assist in assembling various automotive components, from installing screws and bolts to fitting larger parts like doors and dashboards.

Electronics Assembly

Cobots play a crucial role in the electronics assembly industry, where precision and consistency are paramount. They handle tasks such as circuit board assembly, quality control, and material handling with high accuracy and efficiency.

• Circuit board assembly: Cobots are programmed to place components on circuit boards with extreme precision, ensuring correct positioning and soldering.
  
  
• Quality Control: Cobots equipped with vision systems can inspect electronic components and assemblies for defects, such as misaligned parts or soldering issues.

Hirebotics Beacon App for Cobots

The Hirebotics Beacon app has changed the way cobots are used in welding by eliminating the need for traditional programming. Users can easily set up and control cobots using a smartphone or tablet. The process is as simple as downloading the app and following intuitive prompts. Once you download the app, you’ll be on your way to teaching the cobot how to perform different welds!

Features of the Beacon App

The Beacon app is packed with features that enhance the usability and functionality of cobots. Some of the key features include:

• User-friendly interface: The app offers an intuitive, easy-to-navigate interface that simplifies the setup and control of cobots.
  
  
• Task automation: Users can automate tasks such as welding and cutting metals without needing to write a single line of code. The app guides users through the process, making it accessible even for those with no technical background.
  
  
• Remote monitoring and control: The Beacon app allows for remote monitoring and control of cobots, providing flexibility and convenience. Users can track the performance and status of their cobots from anywhere, ensuring smooth operations.
  
  
• Real-time adjustments: Adjustments can be made in real-time through the app, allowing for immediate fine-tuning and optimization of tasks.
  
  
• Support and troubleshooting: The app includes built-in support and troubleshooting features to assist users with any issues that may arise during operation. Notably, the built-in support features a chat option with an average response time of just two minutes from their team of welding experts. This ensures that users receive timely and expert assistance whenever needed.

In welding applications, you can easily set up the cobot to perform precise welds, ensuring high-quality results. For cutting metals, the app guides the cobot to follow accurate cutting paths, increasing efficiency and reducing waste.

Visit our Cobot Welder and Cobot Cutter pages to see how easy the Beacon app is to use.

Unlock the Full Potential of Cobot Programming

The versatility and potential of cobot programming are truly transformative for modern manufacturing. With methods ranging from scripting and coding to intuitive mobile apps like Beacon, there are solutions available for every level of expertise and application need.

Ready to take the next step? Explore Hirebotics innovative cobot solutions and see how we can help you improve your manufacturing processes. Check out the Beacon app and other resources to see how easy it can be to integrate cobots into your operations.

Schedule a demo or consultation to discover how Hirebotics can help you leverage the power of cobot technology.