Getting Started

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■ To use the latest version, visit the Mech-Mind Download Center to download it.

■ If you're unsure about the version of the product you are using, please contact Mech-Mind Technical Support for assistance.

This topic will guide you through the entire process from checking package contents to using Mech-Eye Viewer to capture images.

1. Check Package Contents

  1. Make sure that the package is intact when you receive it.

  2. Check contents according to the “packing list” in the package to ensure that no devices or accessories are missing or damaged.

The table below is for reference only. Please take the “packing list” in the package as the final.

Camera

camera package content

Accessory bag

accessory bag

User manual

user manual

Calibration board

(UHP-140 only)

calibration board

DC power cable (20 m)

CBL-PWR-20M-LU

dc power cable

Ethernet cable (20 m)

CBL-ETH-20M-LU

ethernet cable

  • Optional accessories:

    DIN rail power supply

    din rail power supply

    Calibration board

    (except for UHP-140)

    calibration board

2. Check Ports and Indicator Lights

Please refer to the following figures and tables and check the functions of the ports and indicator lights on the camera.

2.1. PRO S / PRO M, DEEP, UHP-140, LSR S, and LSR L

diagram general
The figure above is for reference only. The actual product may differ.

No.

Name

Function

DC 24V port

1: GND

2: GND

3: 24 VDC

4: 24 VDC

ETH port

1: MD3_P

2: MD2_N

3: MD2_P

4: MD0_P

5: MD1_P

6: MD0_N

7: MD3_N

8: MD1_N

PWR indicator light

Off: not connected to power

Green: normal voltage

Yellow: abnormal voltage, but system is still functioning

Red: voltage too high or too low, system power is disconnected

LINK indicator light

Off: not connected to network

Blinking green: data being transmitted

Solid green: no ongoing data transmission

SYS indicator light

Off: system not started

Solid green: system starting up

Blinking green: system operating properly

Blinking yellow: system operating with error but still functioning

Blinking red: system not operating

SCAN indicator light

Solid: capturing and processing in progress

Off: not capturing or processing

2.2. NANO and PRO XS

diagram special
The above figure uses NANO as an example.

No.

Name

Function

PWR indicator light

Off: not connected to power

Green: normal voltage

LINK indicator light

Off: not connected to network

Blinking green: data being transmitted

Solid green: no ongoing data transmission

ETH port

1: MD3_P

2: MD2_N

3: MD2_P

4: MD0_P

5: MD1_P

6: MD0_N

7: MD3_N

8: MD1_N

DC 24V port

1: GND

2: GND

3: 24 VDC

4: 24 VDC

3. Mount the Camera

The camera can be mounted in multiple ways. Please select the mounting method appropriate for your actual situation.

Please prepare a wrench.

3.1. Mount through Camera Bracket

The camera bracket and the heat-dissipation panel (LSR S only) are attached to the back of the camera when packaged.

As shown below, tighten the two bolts with the wrench.

  • PRO S / PRO M, DEEP, UHP-140, LSR S, and LSR L:

    mount with bracket 1
  • NANO and PRO XS:

    mount with bracket 2

3.2. Mount through Threaded Holes on the Back

  • Please remove the camera bracket and heat-dissipation panel (LSR S only) before mounting.

  • When mounting LSR S using this method, ensure that the back of the camera is in close contact with a metal surface for heat dissipation, so that the camera does not overheat and malfunction.

As shown below, use the wrench to loosely screw on the bolts in the specified order, and then fully tighten all the bolts in the specified order.

  • PRO S / PRO M, DEEP, UHP-140, LSR S, and LSR L:

    mount with threaded holes 1
  • NANO and PRO XS:

    mount with threaded holes 2

3.3. Mount through Threaded Holes at the Top (LSR S and UHP-140)

Please remove the camera bracket before mounting.

As shown below, use the wrench to loosely screw on the bolts in the specified order, and then fully tighten all the bolts in the specified order.

mount with threaded holes 3

4. Connect Cables

Please follow these steps to connect the Ethernet and power cables of the camera.

4.1. Ethernet Cable

As shown below, insert the M12-A connector of the Ethernet cable to the ETH port on the camera, and insert the RJ45 connector to the Ethernet port on the IPC.

4.2. DC Power Cable

As shown below, insert the M12-A connector of the DC power cable to the DC 24V port on the camera.

connect the camera
power cable connection

When inserting the Ethernet cable and DC power cable:

  1. When inserting, align the bump in the connector with the notch in the port.

  2. Tighten the nut. The recommended tightening torque is 0.7 N·m. A gap of about 2 mm remains after the nut is fully tightened.

  • Network switch can be used to connect the camera and IPC.

  • Please connect the power cable last. After power is supplied, the PWR indicator light should be solid green. If not, please contact Mech-Mind.

  • When mounting the camera onto a robot arm or other mobile equipment, please fasten the DC power and Ethernet cables on the camera end properly to avoid damaging the cables or connectors due to strain.

5. DIN Rail Power Supply

  • Please prepare the AC power cable.

  • The instructions below apply to the DIN rail power supply provided by Mech-Mind. If you use your own DIN rail power supply, please refer to its user manual for connection instructions.

din rail incorrect

din rail correct

Incorrect

Correct

The AC power cable has three wires: L, N, and PE (pe).

The DC power cable has three wires: +V, -V and PE (pe).

When wiring the DIN rail power supply, wires of the power cable must be inserted to the corresponding input/output terminals.

icon warning Warning

  • Please mount the DIN rail power supply inside a control cabinet.

  • The DIN rail power supply or the DIN rail should be reliably grounded. If mounting multiple DIN rail power supplies on the same DIN rail, ensure enough distance in between.

  • Please use a single-phase, 3-prong power outlet with protective grounding for the AC power.


The mounting and connection of the camera hardware is completed. The following sections will introduce how to use Mech-Eye Viewer to connect to the camera and control the camera to capture images.

6. Download and Install Mech-Eye SDK

You can download the Mech-Eye SDK installation package from Mech-Mind Download Center.

After decompressing the installation package, double-click the installer to install Mech-Eye SDK. For more information, please refer to Mech-Eye SDK Installation Guide.

7. Set IP Addresses

Before connecting to the camera, please make sure that the following IP address are unique and in the same subnet.

  • Camera IP address

  • The IP address of the IPC Ethernet port connected to the camera

Follow these steps to set the camera IP address:

  1. Double-click to open Mech-Eye Viewer.

  2. Find the camera to be connected and click setting.

  3. Set the camera IP address.

8. Connect to Camera

  1. Find the camera to be connected in Mech-Eye Viewer, and click Connect.

    connected view

If the software or firmware needs to be upgraded, the Upgrade button is displayed instead. Please click this button to perform upgrade first, and then connect to the camera.

9. Capture Images

Click single cap to perform image capturing once.

Clicking continuous cap will trigger the camera to repeatedly capture images at predetermined intervals. Click again to stop the image capturing.

Click the data types below the image capturing buttons to check the 2D image, depth map and point cloud obtained from the camera.

acquisition
For more information on image capturing and data types, please refer to Acquire and View Data.

10. Adjust Parameters

If the quality of the obtained 2D image, depth map and point cloud is not satisfactory, you can adjust the relevant parameters in the Parameters tab on the right of the software to improve data quality.

10.1. Determine Data Quality

Based on the following criteria, roughly determine the quality of the obtained data.

  • 2D image: the 2D image is not too bright or too dark; the surface features of the target object are clearly visible.

    Too dark Good Too bright

    exposure time 5

    exposure time 90

    exposure time 500

  • Depth map and point cloud: in the depth map and point cloud, the data corresponding to the target object should be complete. In the following example, the target object is the rotors.

    Point cloud of target object incomplete Point cloud of target object complete

    exposure time 3d 1

    exposure time 3d 4

10.2. Improve 2D Image Quality

  1. Set the Exposure Mode parameter in the 2D Parameters category to Timed, and then adjust the Exposure Time parameter.

    • If the 2D image is too dark, increase Exposure Time.

    • If the 2D image is too bright, decrease Exposure Time.

      DEEP and LSR series provide two types of 2D images corresponding to different parameters. For detailed information, please refer to Parameters of DEEP Series and Parameters of LSR Series.
  2. Capture images again and check the quality of the 2D image.

10.3. Improve Quality of Depth Map and Point Cloud

  1. Adjust the Exposure Time parameter in the 3D Parameters category.

    • If the object is dark-colored or not reflective, increase Exposure Time.

    • If the object is light-colored or reflective, decrease Exposure Time.

  2. Capture images again and check the quality of the depth map and point cloud.


For more explanations of the parameters, please refer to Parameter Reference Guide.

11. Use Data

The 2D image, depth map and point cloud obtained through Mech-Eye Viewer can be saved locally or can be output to Mech-Vision or third-party machine vision software for subsequent processing and calculation.

  • Save the data: Click save in the data acquisition area, set the destination path, check the data types to be saved, and then click Save.

  • Use the data in Mech-Vision: Please refer to Vision System Tutorial and learn how to build the entire vision system that includes Mech-Vision.

  • Use the data in third-party machine vision software: The data obtained by the camera can be transmitted to third-party software through Mech-Eye API or the GenICam interface.

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