Manual Re-Calibration in the Eye-to-Hand Setup (Six-Axis Robots - Using TCP Touch Method)
This how-to guide introduces how to complete the manual re-calibration for six-axis robots using the TCP touch method in the eye-to-hand (ETH) setup.
Preparation before Calibration
Prepare the Materials Required for Calibration
Before hand-eye re-calibration, you need to finish the following preparations:
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Locate the calibration board provided with the project. Ensure that the circles of the calibration board are clearly visible and without obvious scratches, and the board does not suffer from deformations.
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Place the calibration board flat at the center of the working plane, and ensure that the board remains fixed in position throughout the calibration process.
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The sharp tip should be mounted on the center of the robot flange. If an undetachable gripper is connected to the robot flange, you can attach the sharp point directly to the gripper.
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Please move the robot to the starting point for calibration to ensure that the robot will not block the camera from collecting images of the calibration board.
Adjust the Effect of Calibration Board’s Point Cloud
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Open Mech-Eye Viewer to adjust camera parameters.
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Adjust the 2D parameters to make sure that the 2D image of the calibration board is clear and neither overexposed nor underexposed.
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Adjust 3D parameters to make sure that the point clouds of the circles on the calibration board are complete and have clear contours. It is recommended to set Surface Smoothing and Outlier Removal to Normal in the Point Cloud Processing section to reduce the point cloud fluctuation range.
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Make sure that the images and point cloud of the calibration board are up to standard after completing the preceding steps.
Normal Overexposed Underexposed 2D image
Point cloud
Pre-calibration Configuration
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Open Mech-Vision, select a project in the project list, and then click the Camera Calibration (Standard) button in the toolbar. The Configuration before Calibration window will be prompted.
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In the Select how to calibrate window, select the Load calibration parameters radio button, select the parameters that were calibrated for the project, and then click the Next button.
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In the Select parameter usage window, select Continue working on the calibrated camera radio button, and then click the Next button.
Camera status should be displayed as connected. -
In the Select calibration task window, select Recalibrate from the start radio button, and then click the Calibration button. The Calibration (Eye to Hand) window will be prompted.
Till now, you have completed the pre-calibration configuration and can start the calibration procedure.
Re-Calibration Procedure
Connect to Camera
By default, the camera used in the project is set to be connected. Please click the Next button to continue the calibration procedure.
If the camera is not connected, please complete the camera connection by referring to the following instructions:
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In the Connect to camera step, select the camera to connect in the Camera ID list, and then click the
button or double-click the camera entry to connect to it.
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After the camera is connected, click the Capture live or Capture once button.
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In the Image viewer panel, ensure that the camera can capture images normally and click the Next button on the bottom bar.
Mount Calibration Board & Check Intrinsic Parameters
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In the Mount calibration board & check intrinsic parameters step, select the calibration board model for the Standard calibration board model parameter according to its model nameplate in the 1 Select calibration board area.
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In the 2 Check calibration board position and point cloud quality area, read carefully the requirements on the calibration board position and point cloud quality, and then click the Capture live button. The Capture live button will turn into Stop capturing and detect position.
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Manually move the calibration board to the proper position (in the red rectangle), and ensure that the 2D image and depth map of the calibration board meet the requirements, and then click the Stop capturing and detect position button.
If the captured images do not meet the requirements, click the Open Mech-Eye Viewer button to open the Mech-Eye Viewer software, adjust the 2D and 3D exposure parameters and re-capture images. Please note that you need to change the Parameter group parameter to “calib” first.
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In the 3 Check intrinsic parameters area, click the Check intrinsic parameters button.
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Confirm the results of the camera intrinsic parameter check.
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If the camera intrinsic parameter check passes, click the OK button in the prompted window, and then click the Next button on the bottom bar.
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If the camera intrinsic parameter check fails, adjust detection parameters by drawing aid circles or manually adjusting the calibration circle detection parameters, and then click the Recheck intrinsic parameters button. If the intrinsic parameter check still fails, please contact Technical Support.
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Draw Aid Circle
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To draw an aid circle, click the Draw an aid circle button.
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In the right Image viewer panel, right-click the calibration board image, clear the Fit to window checkbox, press the Ctrl key and drag the roller to adjust the image to a suitable size.
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Move the mouse pointer to the cross center point of the calibration circle, press the left mouse button and make the aid circle completely include the calibration circle and then release it.
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Click the Recheck intrinsic parameters button, and confirm that the camera intrinsic parameter check passes.
Set TCP in Flange Frame
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In the Set TCP in flange frame step, select the Input known TCP radio button, and enter the TCP values.
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Click the Confirm TCP values button.
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Click the Next button on the bottom bar.
If the TCP values are unknown, select the Obtain TCP by calibration radio button, and then click the Calibrate TCP button. You can use the TCP calibration tool to calculate the TCP values.
Collect Images and Flange Poses
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In the Collect images and flange poses step, select the Save images checkbox.
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Control the robot to let its end tip touch the cross center point of calibration circle “point 1” on the calibration board, and record the robot flange pose in the teach pendant.
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Click the
button of point 1, and enter the robot flange pose in the prompted Input Flange Pose of Robot dialog box, and then click the OK button.
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Repeat the preceding steps, and let the end tip touch the cross center points of point 2 and point 3, and enter robot flange poses.
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Click the
button of the current calibration board to capture the images of it. -
Click the Update data button and then click the Next button on the bottom bar.
The calibration program requires that at least three points not in a line should be touched for calculating extrinsic parameters.
Calculate Extrinsic Parameters
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In the Calculate extrinsic parameters step, click the Calculate extrinsic parameters button.
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In the prompted window indicating calibration success, click the OK button.
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Click the Save button on the bottom bar. In the prompted Save Calibration Files dialog box, click the OK button. The camera calibration result will be automatically saved in the “calibration” directory of the project.
Till now, the calibration process is completed.
Verify Calibration Results
After calculating the extrinsic parameters, you can use any of the following methods to verify if the calibration results are valid.
View Error Point Cloud
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After calculating the extrinsic parameters, click Point cloud viewer on the right to view the error point cloud.
The error point cloud shows the deviation between the calculated value and the actual value of the circles on the calibration board. 
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Verify whether the accuracy of the calibrated extrinsic parameters meets the project’s requirements. The error value with the 100% percentage can be roughly considered as the calibration accuracy.
Roughly Check Coincidence Degree between the Point Cloud of the Robot and the Robot Model in Scene Viewer
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After calibration, move the robot arms into the field of view of the camera.
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In the Calculate extrinsic parameters step, click the Calculate extrinsic parameters button. This operation will trigger the camera to capture images and generate the point clouds of the robot.
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Click Scene viewer to check the coincidence degree between the point cloud of the robot and the robot model.
If the point cloud of the robot roughly coincides with the robot model, the calibration is successful.
Change the Extrinsic Parameter File
After hand-eye calibration, it is necessary to change the extrinsic parameter file used in the current Mech-Vision project to a new one.
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Select the Capture Images from Camera Step.
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In the Step Parameters panel, click
of the Camera Calibration Parameters parameter, and select the newly calibrated extrinsic parameter file.