The cobots are a flexible solution for many types of applications, and with FANUC’s Tablet Teach Pendant (TP) plug-in SDK, so are the user interfaces. Plug-in SDK, short for Software Developer’s Kit, is an HTML5/JavaScript-based platform that enables the creation of dedicated icons for the Tablet TP’s timeline editor, as well as for creating dedicated screens on the HMI.
Custom screens are full size pages, which allow configuration of peripheral devices or interactions with the work cell on the Cobot’s Tablet TP. Additionally, custom icons can be created to perform tasks specific to your application. FANUC created dedicated screens and icons in our collaborative robotic bike assembly demo.
The Cobot Bicycle Assembly Use Case
In the FANUC CR-35iB collaborative robotic bicycle assembly demo, we created icons that prompt the user to assemble and inspect the bicycle at certain points in the program, after the robot has oriented the bicycle for convenient user access. .
Also, a custom workcell HMI can be created using the SDK plugin, as we also did in the bike assembly demo. In the video, you can see where the user checks each step throughout the assembly process. Upon completion of a step, a “confirm” button is pressed and the robot moves to the next assembly position where a new set of instructions is displayed. All these elements in the Tablet TP were created through the Plug-in SDK.
Custom icons can also be created, which are targeted to your application and can throw a custom error. These icons on the Cobot Tablet TP can be programmed to complete any action you require.
Start your programming
To facilitate programming with the Tablet TP SDK, FANUC provides preloaded iHMI components for all controllers with the Tablet TP option. These are standard FANUC style sheets for controls such as buttons and dropdown selection boxes.
However, you are not limited to these styles. In addition to these iHMI components, you can use any standard HTML that you are familiar with or already using.
For the creation of web pages, we offer embedded JavaScript to handle the communication between your screen and the controller. This would be used to set or read values or variables.
SDK Plugin for Tablet TP Your Way
The SDK allows for the generation of structured text code to fully customize the Tablet TP. Those comfortable with JavaScript programming can create custom icons to use in the timeline editor to program macros, and can design fully intuitive HMI screens suited to specific needs. This allows you to use your FANUC Tablet TP as the main HMI interface for single cells instead of having to purchase third-party equipment.
The Tablet TP Plugin SDK extends the functionality of the FANUC robot programming language, making FANUC cobots even more flexible and adaptable to your needs.