Getting Started with Mech-Vision

The user interface of Mech-Vision consists of the following parts:

1. Menu Bar

The Menu Bar provides basic functions related to projects, as well as supplementary tools like Camera and Deep Learning.

File

Used to manage projects.

Options	Description	Shortcut
New Project	Create a new empty project	Ctrl+N
Open Project	Open an existing project	Ctrl+O
Open Recent	Show recently opened projects. Click on a project name to open it	N/A
Open Executable File In Explorer	Open the installation folder of Mech-Vision	N/A
Save Project	Save the changes to the current project	Ctrl+S
Save Project To JSON	Save the project, and save the .vis file as a .json file	N/A
Save Project As	Save the project under a specified directory	Ctrl+Shift+S
Exit	Close the project and exit Mech-Vision	Ctrl+Q

Edit

Options	Description	Shortcut
Undo	Undo the previous action	Ctrl+Z
Redo	Redo the undone action	Ctrl+Y

View

Providing settings for managing components of the user interface. Check the box before each option to display the corresponding component in Mech-Vision.

Options	Description
Projects List	Display/Hide the Projects panel; checked by default
Step Library	Display/Hide the Step Library panel; checked by default
Debug Output	Display/Hide the Debug Output panel; checked by default
History	Display/Hide the History panel
Project Assistant	Display/Hide the Project Assistant tab
Step Quick Info	Display/Hide the Step Quick Info tab
Step Comment List	Display/Hide the Step Comment List tab
Step Parameters	Display/Hide the Step Parameters tab
Step Input Source Selection	Display/Hide the Step Input Source Selection panel
Measurement Output	Display/Hide the Measurement Output panel
Log	Display/Hide the Log panel; checked by default
Toolbar	Display/Hide the Toolbar; checked by default

Typical Applications

Create projects for typical applications including palletizing, deplattizing, machine tending, etc.

Options	Description	Shortcut
New Typical Application Project	Create a typical application project by following the guidance in the pop-up window	Ctrl+Shift+N

Camera

Options	Description	Shortcut
Camera Viewer	Capture and save images	Ctrl+Shift+V
Camera Calibration	Standard: standard calibration process Quick: quick calibration using existing parameters	N/A

Deep Learning

Options	Description	Shortcut
Deep Learning Server	Start/Stop deep learning server(s).	Ctrl+Alt+D

Toolkit

Providing supplementary tools that are commonly used for debugging.

Options	Description
Matching Model and Pick Point Editor	Generate point cloud model, edit point cloud model, and add pick point
Model Editor Tools (old)	Include the old tools for point cloud model and pick point, now replaced by Matching Model and Pick Point Editor
Data Playback	Replay the image data in the project for identifying any error in images
Plugin Tools	Test Project Precision: used to calculate error rate rate Mech Glue Wizard: acquire images from the camera and generate trajectory images used for labeling; save image, trajectory, and point cloud files

Settings

Providing commonly used settings.

Options	Description	Shortcut
Set Mech-Center Address	Set the IP address of Mech-Center	N/A
Lock Project	Check the box to lock opened projects	N/A
Options	Change common settings like language, unit, etc	Ctrl+Shift+O
Log Level	Select log level, and information of the selected level and above will be logged	N/A

Help

Used to check the current version information, change log, manual, etc.

Options	Description
About	Check current version information
Change Log	Open the Change Log in browser
Manual	Open Mech-Vision User Manual in browser

2. Toolbar

Providing quick access to commonly used tools and buttons for shifting project mode.

Option	Description
New Typical Application Project	Quickly create a typical application project
Camera Calibration (Standard)	Start hand-eye calibration (standard mode)
Matching Model and Pick Point Editor	Generate, edit, and add pick point(s) to model point clouds of the target projects
Standard Editing Mode	The default mode of Mech-Vision
Measurement Mode	Used for measurement and defect detection in the 3C industry
Operator Interface (Custom)	Mech-Vision enters this mode when a typical application project is created

3. Projects List

This panel displays the name(s) of opened project(s).

4. Step Library

This panel provides all the Steps that can be used to build a project.

5. Project Toolbar

Providing buttons for running, stopping and debugging the project.

Option	Description
Run	Run the project
Stop	Stop the project
Debug Output	Turn the debug output on/off

6. Graphical Programming Workspace

This is where you can connect and debug the Steps of a project. Only available in standard editing mode.

7. Log

This panel displays the log in real-time while running a project, where you can check the execution record of a certain moment.

8. Project Configuration Panel

This pane provides panels and tabs including Debug Output, Step Parameters, Project Assistant, Step Quick Info, History and Step Comment List.

Debut Output

When Debug Output in the Project Toolbar is switched on, this panel displays the output of steps as the project is executed. For details, please refer to Run Steps and View Outputs.

Step Parameters

This tab displays the common parameters of the selected Step.

Project Assistant

This tab provides tools of Parameter Recipe, Data Storage, and Scene Point Cloud for Reference.

Step Quick Info

This tab displays a description of the function, usage scenario, input and output of the selected Step, as shown below.

Tip

Press F1 to open the corresponding chapter in the User Manual for more detailed information on the selected step.

History

This tab provides a list of all the actions you have taken to program the project. Clicking on an item to return the project to that point in history.

Step Comment List

This tab displays the comment added to the selected Step. For detailed instructions on Step comment, please refer to Introduction to Step Comments.

Tip

If you need to use the Step Input Source Selection or Measurement Output tabs, check the corresponding options in the View menu in the Menu Bar.

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How to quickly create a project in Mech-Vision?

Click on New Typical Application Project in the Toolbar to create a project in the following window:

After the project is deployed, Mech-Vision will display the following operator interface:

The Operator Interface can be used to:

1. Check the execution status of the project, such as the top-level point cloud, deep learning results, poses, etc.

2. Adjust parameters conveniently to optimize output results.

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Please refer to Typical Applications for Mech-Vision’s typical application projects in different scenarios.