As African manufacturers continue embracing Industry 4.0 technologies, solutions that simplify robot programming and reduce automation costs are becoming increasingly important. Manufacturers across sectors such as automotive, aerospace, metal fabrication, mining equipment, electronics and general engineering are seeking technologies that enable faster deployment of robotic systems while reducing dependence on specialised programming expertise.
Responding to this demand, RoboDK, a global provider of offline robot programming and simulation software, has introduced RoboDK CAM, a new software solution that enables robotic machining programmes to be generated directly from CAD models.
According to the company, the software can reduce robotic machining deployment time by up to 40%, helping manufacturers move more quickly from product design to production-ready automation.
Traditionally, robotic machining has required extensive robot-specific programming, making automation projects both time-consuming and expensive. RoboDK CAM addresses this challenge by automatically converting CAD models into machining toolpaths while generating collision-free robot movements without requiring users to manually write or optimise robot code.
The solution has been developed to make robotic machining more accessible to manufacturers, system integrators and engineering teams, including those with limited robot programming experience. By simplifying the programming process, businesses can accelerate automation projects while improving consistency and reducing engineering effort.
According to Albert Nubiola, Chief Executive Officer of RoboDK, traditional robot programming often creates a costly bottleneck because it relies heavily on specialised expertise. By making CAD models the starting point for robot programming, RoboDK enables automation systems to be deployed faster and with greater repeatability, helping manufacturers reduce implementation time and improve production efficiency.
During the recent Automate Show, RoboDK demonstrated the software using a compact industrial cell equipped with a Mecademic robotic arm. The demonstration showcased robotic machining generated directly from CAD files, together with automatic collision-free motion planning for pick-and-place applications operating within confined production environments.
The launch follows the release of RoboDK Version 6.0, which introduces significant improvements in software performance, simulation capabilities and native CAM integration.
According to the company, the latest version dramatically accelerates critical functions such as collision detection and geometry processing—by as much as 10 to 100 times in certain applications—while improving the handling of complex 3D models and large point-cloud datasets.
The update also expands motion-planning functionality through enhanced collision-free path planning and introduces new event-based simulation tools that allow engineers to model increasingly sophisticated automation processes before deployment.
Earlier this year, RoboDK reached another important milestone by expanding support to more than 1,400 industrial robot models from over 80 robot manufacturers, reinforcing its position as one of the world’s largest hardware-independent robot programming and simulation platforms.
For African manufacturers seeking to improve productivity, address skilled labour shortages and remain globally competitive, technologies such as RoboDK CAM offer practical pathways towards faster automation adoption. By reducing programming complexity, improving simulation accuracy and shortening deployment times, intelligent software platforms are helping industries modernise production while making advanced robotics more accessible across the continent.
