Resources · Programming
Start programming your cobot
Four ways to program a Fairino, from the simplest to the most complete.
There is no single way to program a cobot, and that is the best news for a shop: the operator who loads the machine today can teach the robot the task without writing a line of code, and the programmer who already knows Python can take it much further. These are the four paths, in order of difficulty.
01 — Resources · Programming
The four paths
4
01
Hand-guide and record
You take the arm by hand, walk it through the points of the task and record each position from the teach pendant. It is the first thing you learn and it covers most pick-and-place work: nothing to write.
02
Graphical programming
In the robot's WebApp you build the program out of blocks: motion, waits, conditions, inputs and outputs. Palletizing functions, cell logic and per-product recipes live here, still without code.
03
Python SDK
When the cell needs to talk to other equipment —a camera, a PLC, an MES— you use the SDK. The knowledge base has the articles on servo commands, asynchronous applications and a full pick-and-place example.
04
Offline programming (OLP)
For complex paths —welding a frame, grinding a part— you program on the computer against the 3D model of the cell and send the finished program to the robot. This is where CAD/CAM tools like SprutCAM X Robot come in; it supports any brand, Fairino included.
Frequently asked questions
01Can a Fairino be programmed offline?
Yes. SprutCAM X Robot supports any robot brand, Fairino included. You can use components from its equipment library or build your own with MachineMaker.
02What is SprutCAM X Robot?
An all-in-one CAD/CAM/OLP package for offline robot programming. It works against the machine model and outputs a program ready to load.
03How do I start programming a Fairino cobot in SprutCAM X Robot?
Download the trial version, which is fully functional, and work against the cobot's 3D model. They also run an online training center.
04Is there a free version to try?
Yes, a fully functional 30-day trial.
05Do I need to program to run a cobot every day?
No. Once the cell is programmed, the operator just picks the recipe on screen and starts. Programming is touched when the part or the process changes.
06Where do I get the 3D models to simulate the cell?
The cobot and end-effector models are on the 3D model pages of this site. The files are requested from an advisor.
07Do you program the cell or do I?
Either way. Commissioning covers scoping, design, programming and onsite startup; if your people want to do it, we train them.