Florida-based software company Bobcad has announced a new RoboDK plugin for its design software to support faster and more efficient machining.
BobCAD-CAM is a mechanical design and machining software targeted at machinists. The software is available as a stand-alone product or as an add-on to other CAD programmes, including Rhino 3D and SolidWorks.
Bobcad claims its software is different from other CAD/CAM software packages as it is designed to specifically meet the needs of machinists.
Various modules of the software are available, including CAD design, turning, routing, laser, plasma and waterjet cutting. There is also a dedicated art module to serve the growing intersection between manufacturing and art.
Robot machining involves using a robot to mill the machining paths instead of a conventional CNC machine.
Some key benefits of robot machining are: robots are cheaper than conventional CNC machining; they can be more flexible; a wider range of tasks can be completed with a single robot; and one uses less floorspace than several CNC machines.
According to Bobcad, the software is used across a range of industries and is compatible with hundreds of robot models.
The plugin panel includes four core buttons: one for robot setup, which launches RoboDK, one to update operations by switching the machining toolpath, one to generate the robot programme and one to bring up the settings panel.
