ABB Product Screen robot HMI

ABB Product Screen brings smart-phone logic to its robot-controller device, the FlexPendant. The software package uses graphical objects, known as widgets, to perform basic robot functions. Widgets can be created using either ABB ScreenMaker or third-party software such as Microsoft Visual Studio.

The software’s on-screen customisation and user-friendly navigation are designed for use with a variety of applications such as arc welding, spot welding and dispensing. Widgets can be programmed to perform information, control, monitoring and notification functions. Users choose which widgets they need as well as what they should look like. Ready-made widgets and apps also can be shared and downloaded from ABB’s application library, Robot Apps.

The purpose of Product Screen is to bring about a cost-effective way for robot operators to interact with the robot directly from the FlexPendant. Its production environment puts the operator in control by bringing only the relevant functions to the forefront, which allows robot operators to focus on production-related data and to work more effectively.

ScreenMaker is a software package, available from ABB, which allows users to create customised FlexPendant GUIs. It eliminates the need to learn the visual studio development environment and .NET programming.