Programming Yaskawa Motoman Robots

Yaskawa Motoman robots are some of the most widely used around the world. There is a Yaskawa Motoman robot for just about any production related task which is why they are so common for automating manufacturing processes. Before a Yaskawa Motoman robot can be up and running it must be programmed. Yaskawa Motoman robots can be programmed through the following methods.

• Teach Pendant - Programming with a teach pendant is the most common method for Yaskawa Motoman robots. All Yaskawa Motoman robots come with the handheld devices. Their pendants are composed of a display screen, keypad, and emergency stop button. Yaskawa Motoman teach pendant models are based upon the controller model. The Motoman EA1400N features an XRC controller so it can only use a pendant that is XRC compatible. The same goes for the Motoman MA1400 which uses a DX100 controller and will need a DX100 pendant. During programming an operator will enter the specific steps of a robotic application using the keypad of the pendant. Operators have their choice of the following coordinate systems with Yaskawa Motoman pendants: joint base motion, robot base, tool frame, and user frame.

• Offline Programming - Those with complex applications or those that do not want to interrupt productions for programming can program their Yaskawa Motoman robot with offline software. MotoSim is Yaskawa Motoman’s offline software that combines programming and simulation. It creates a virtual 3D representation of a robotic workcell or production line. Users can program their Yaskawa MH180 outside of the production environment through a PC without having to take the articulated robot out of production. MotoSim allows users to create a proof of concept for their robotic system, create programs, and test programs for complete optimization of a robotic application. There are MotoSim versions available for all Yaskawa Motoman robot models going back to their ERC controlled robots.

• Hand Guidance - Hand guidance programming is exclusive to Yaskawa Motoman collaborative robots. Hand guidance allows users to program cobots through demonstration. Users can manually guide the robotic manipulator through the path of an application. Hand guidance simplifies the programming process and allows for faster programming. Yaskawa Motoman hand guidance programming can be used for all robot joints, only the tool joints, or for programming the EOAT along the XYZ planes plus the sixth axis.

• PLC - Some of Yaskawa Motoman’s robots can be programmed through PLCs or Programmable Logic Controllers. Yaskawa Motoman robots using DX200, YRC1000, or YRC1000micro controllers can be programmed using PLC programming language. PLC is common in manufacturing. Using it to program your six axis robot instead of native robot language enables more workers to program the robotic system as many are already familiar with it. It also unifies automation equipment since they can use the same programming language.

• Smart Pendant - Smart Pendant is Yaskawa Motoman’s latest teach pendant and uses dynamic motion technology. This touchscreen pendant was specifically designed for those new to robot programming. Smart Pendant forgoes programming using traditional coordinate frames and instead adapts the robot to the operator’s position. Smart Pendant is available with Yaskawa Motoman robots using the YRC1000 or YRC1000micro controllers.