Programming robots doesn’t have to be a complex task. With the right tools — like these programming-specific RoboDK Add-ins — you can program faster, easier, and even enjoy the process!
Let’s be honest… programming robots has never been simpler than it is these days. But, there are always tweaks you can make to your programming workflow to make the job even easier.
Among our comprehensive and growing bank of RoboDK Add-ins, we have a range of options to fine-tune specific programming tasks and streamline complex workflows.
Here are 15 highly useful Add-ins to optimize your robot programming:
1. Robot Pilot
When you want full control over your robot in real time, Robot Pilot, allows you to move the robot in incremental steps, in a similar manner to conventional jogging.
Features include:
- Moving the simulated or physical robot through the RoboDK GUI.
- Allowing movements relative to the active reference frame.
- Altering the step size in millimeters or degrees.
2. RoboUI
RoboUI lets you easily design custom user interface (UI) elements for your robot solutions and overlay them directly onto RoboDK’s 3D scene.
Features include:
- Seamless integration with the powerful ImGUI library for simple and productive graphical interface design.
- Detection of mouse position within the layout.
- Easy toggling between custom and default UIs.
3. UI Additions
UI Additions provides even more features for incorporating user interface elements into your project and customizing them for the needs of your project.
Features include:
- Additional customization elements for your UI.
- Replacing of the default program tree with a flexible UI window.
- Opaque rendering and simple dockability of the window.
4. Lock TCP
When you need your robot’s end effector to stay in position, Lock TCP provides functionality to keep the tool center point (TCP) t in place for a 6-axis industrial robot.
Features include:
- Retaining of TCP when the robot is mounted on a moving external axis.
- Automatic rejection of unreachable robot configurations.
- Simple changing of the TCP lock state through the RoboDK API.
5. Game Controller
Game Controller adds a whole new level of simplicity and flexibility of jogging your robot through RoboDK by adding support for standard game controllers.
Features include:
- Support for multiple game controller models.
- Real-time jogging of the physical robot through the RoboDK Drivers module.
- Mapping of robot movements to gamepad buttons and joysticks.
6. Twin Track
Want to make your whole robot programming process as easy as teaching a task to a person? The Twin Track Add-in is the place to go.
Twin Track is our flagship solution for programming robots through demonstration. It allows you to program the robot by moving an off-the-shelf probe by hand.
Features include:
- Teaching your robot using an intuitive hand-held probe.
- Accuracy of up to 0.15 mm.
- Fast and reliable programming even for non-programmers.
7. Box Spawner
When you need to incorporate conveyors into your robot program, Box Spawner can save you significant amounts of programming time. It provides a range of features for streamlining material transfer simulations.
Features include:
- Spawning of box objects directly in RoboDK with customizable parameters.
- Automatic transfer of box objects to the closest simulated conveyor.
- Randomization of box position, orientation, and scale.
8. App Template
Thinking of creating your own RoboDK Add-in? App Template provides all you need to get started expanding RoboDK functionality with your own functionality.
Features include:
- Examples for adding actions, options, and settings.
- A selection of icons to use within your custom Add-in.
- The required Python modules and dependencies to create a reliable Add-in.
Once you’ve created your own Add-in… why not submit it for addition in our Add-in Marketplace? If it’s accepted, your development can reach a whole new audience and even provide you with an additional revenue stream.
9. Image Processing Editor
Image Processing Editor provides a comprehensive set of 2D image processing utilities that are perfect when you are using robot vision within your application.
Features include:
- Support for varied RoboDK simulated cameras, USB cameras, video files, and image types.
- A range of filters to suit any image processing task.
- Tools for camera calibration, augmented reality, and detection of advanced image features.
10. Import DXF
A must-have addition to any CAD user that uses DXF files, the Import DXF Add-in provides tools to import lines, curves, and other features from the files directly into RoboDK.
Features include:
- Importing of features from DXF files directly into your RoboDK simulations.
- Seamless creation of robot motions from your product design features.
- Support for lines, arcs, circles, polylines and splines.
11. Object Deleter
Object Deleter helps you keep your robot programming projects clean and efficient by automatically removing objects from the simulation.
Features include:
- Configuration of defined “deletion zones” within the simulation.
- Support for Python scripts that control object deletion for a more streamlined workflow.
- A manual Delete button for instantaneous removal of all objects in the defined region.
12. Item Utilities
Item Utilities provides a set of useful functions for manipulating items within your simulation, such as robot models or objects.
Features include:
- Replacing objects in-place and easy object scaling.
- Robot replacement while preserving robot base offset and target links.
- Permanent attachment of objects to a robot link.
13. Point Utilities
With points being such a fundamental programming element, the Point Utilities Add-in is extremely useful for generating and editing point objects in RoboDK.
Features include:
- Adding of points directly to an object surface in the simulation.
- Converting points to robot targets for incorporation into your program.
- Simple editing of points through the Add-in.
14. Program Utilities
When you need help to organize your robot program, the Program Utilities Add-in is ideal. It provides extra tools to edit your programs and instructions.
Features include:
- Conversion from circular movements (MoveC commands) to a series of connected linear movements (MoveL commands).
- Various tools for Merging, reversal, and debugging of robot programs.
- Utilities for modifying the visibility of objects in the program tree and expanding of sub-program calls.
15. IO Monitor
IO Monitor helps you keep on top of your program’s interfacing with external inputs and outputs by allowing real-time IO monitoring.
Features include:
- Real-time monitoring of input and output statuses from within RoboDK.
- Support for all IO formats, including boolean, floating-point numbers, and characters.
- A dockable UI for a smooth, organized programming workflow.
The right programming tools can transform the way you program robots, helping you boost programming efficiency and creativity.
With these 15 RoboDK Add-ins, you have everything you need to simplify your programming workflow and achieve outstanding results faster than ever.
Which Add-in will you try first? 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
