A connection between RoboDK and the KUKA robot can be established to move the robot automatically from a connected PC using RoboDK. This allows using the RoboDK Run on robot option for online programming and debugging. The connection can be established through a standard Ethernet connection (TCP/IP).

Follow these steps to set up the RoboDK driver for KUKA:

1.Connect a mouse (optional, but strongly recommended).
It is possible to plug USB devices to the teach pendant or the controller (reboot is not required).
Alternatively, it is possible to establish a remote desktop connection.
These steps can also be accomplished using the teach pendant’s touch screen and the virtual keyboard.
2.Using the KUKA HMI application it is possible to open the main menu using the KUKA button , at the top left of the screen:
a.KUKAConfigurationUser group choose Administrator (password: kuka)
b.KUKAStart-upServiceMinimize HMI (the windows screen will appear)
3.Copy the KUKAVARPROXY folder on the Desktop (or somewhere in the controller PC)
4.Allow port 7000 for TCP/UDP communication (this step is not required on KUKA KRC2 controllers):
a.Select the HMI.
b.KUKAStart-upNetwork configurationAdvanced
c.NATAdd portPort number 7000
d.Set permitted protocols: tcp/udp
5.Start the KUKAVARPROXY.EXE program on the robot controller (running on Windows).
6.These steps allow starting the driver automatically on the controller on reboot (recommended):
a.Create a shortcut of the KUKAVARPROXY.EXE file
b.Select Windows STARTAll programsRight click startupOpen
c.Paste the shortcut in the startup folder
Fanuc robot instructions

The KUKAVARPROXY server is now ready. You can leave this program running. This server allows exchanging global variables from the KUKA controller to the remote PC.

The next steps are to set up the main program that will handle the robot movements:

1.Add the declaration of the following global variables:
To do so, locate and modify the file “KRCR1STEU$config.dat” (or in “KRCR1System$config.dat” for KRC2 controllers). The folder “KRCR1” can also be accessed from the C: drive at the following Windows path: “C:KRCROBOTERKRC”.

INT COM_ACTION=0

Voodoopad 5 2 1 – notepad with many advanced features. INT COM_ACTCNT=0

REAL COM_ROUNDM=0

REAL COM_VALUE1=0

REAL COM_VALUE2=0

REAL COM_VALUE3=0

REAL COM_VALUE4=0

DECL E6AXIS COM_E6AXIS

DECL FRAME COM_FRAME

DECL POS COM_POS

Fanuc Robot Parts Manual

2.Copy the SRC program provided (RoboDKsynch.src) to the folder KRCR1.

Fanuc Robot Connection Manual Instructions

3.Manually start the RoboDKsynch.src program to make the robot behave like a server that responds to move commands coming from the PC.

Fanuc Robot Connection Manual Pdf

If the RoboDKsynch.src program is not running, RoboDK will still be able to read the robot joints anytime if the KUKAVARPROXY program is running in the robot controller.