Software update makes programming industrial robots child’s play

The latest update to Mitsubishi Electric’s RT Toolbox3 and iQ Works2 offers a new visual editor for programming SCADA and six-axis industrial robots.

Delivering enhanced user-friendliness, and with operators that are new to robotics in mind, the update can help users greatly streamline the set-up of automated applications.

Both entry-level and experienced users can benefit from the new additions to RT Toolbox3 and iQ Works2. The latest update adds an intuitive graphical user interface that features ‘drag-and-drop’ building blocks to the programming environment. This enables the creation of flowchart diagrams to quickly set up and simulate robot workflows without requiring any specialist knowledge.

The pre-coded modules feature a configuration wizard that helps users to insert the parameters needed for the machine to move, pick, pause and repeat. As a result, it is possible to fully customise the robot actions and benefit from maximum flexibility, ultimately making it even easier to deploy industrial robots.

The tool mirrors the framework used to set up and run the MELFA Assista collaborative robot (cobot). Therefore, any operator that has experience with this system will be able to interact with industrial robots using a familiar environment whilst having the option to compare the visual flowcharts with the automatically generated scripts. This will support users in advancing their programming skills and offers a unique educational platform to interact with the two programming forms. Developing a company’s future workforce has never been easier.

Barry Weller, robotics product manager at Mitsubishi Electric, comments: “Industrial robots are generally misperceived as time, resource and cost intensive as well as too complex to be used for entry-level applications. The latest additions to our software platforms expand the tools available to show this is not the case. Mainly aimed at first-time users, our graphical programming interface makes it extremely easy to configure and install any type of industrial robot, so virtually anyone can do it.

“More experienced engineers can also benefit from this update, as it can help simplify and reduce their programming time. This is why we have made the new functions available to all customers – new or existing. Robots are one of the foundations for the factories of the future and we want to maximise accessibility to help companies improve and futureproof their operations.”

The update is automatically included in recently purchased robot packages.