Getting Started with Mech-Center

Deployment Settings

Open Mech-Center and click on Deployment Settings icon_a on the Toolbar to open the Deployment Settings window, as shown below. You can configure the path, parameter, and other settings in it. After configuration, please click on Save. For detailed instructions, please refer to Deployment Settings.

../../_images/deployment_settings.png

Hint

  • Please use Deployment Settings according to actual needs.

  • If Mech-Vision, Mech-Viz, and Mech-Eye Viewer are installed successfully, their paths will be automatically added in Deployment Settings, and you do not need to add by yourself.

Open Projects

Click on Start icon_b on the Toolbar to open Mech-Viz and Mech-Vision. Their icons will be displayed on the Service Status Bar.

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Open Mech-Viz Project

  1. Click on icon_h to enter the main interface of Mech-Viz.

  2. Create a new project or open an existing project.

  3. In the Resources panel on the left, right-click the project name and check Autoload Project

  4. View project status: the project status will be displayed on the Project Status Bar.

Hint

  • After checking Autoload Project in Mech-Viz, the Project path will be automatically added.

Open Mech-Vision Project

  1. Click on icon_i to enter the main interface of Mech-Vision.

  2. Open a solution or project: please refer to Create a New Solution and Create and Save Project for instrucions on creating a new solution or project. You can also open an existing solution or project.

  3. Autoload the solution or autoload the project.

  4. View project status: the project status will be displayed on the Project Status Bar, as shown below.

../../_images/open_project.png

Configure Camera Settings

If you need to check or configure settings of the camera, click on Start Mech-Eye Viewer icon_c on the Toolbar. The icon will be displayed on the Service Status Bar.

Connect the Robot

If the on-site robot you are using is not UR, you need to load the program files before connecting to Mech-Center. For detailed instructions, please see Robot Integrations. Click on Connect Robot icon_f on the Toolbar to connect a real robot. If the connection is successful, a robot icon will be displayed on Service Status Bar.

For projects using Mech-Interface, please click on Start Interface icon_e on the Toolbar. After the interface service is enabled, an icon will be displayed on Service Status Bar.

Run the Project

Hint

If you want to control a real robot, please go to Deployment Settings ‣ Mech-Viz and uncheck Run as simulation.

Click on Run icon_d. If a window as shown below pops up, click on Yes to run the loaded project. Then you can view related information on the Project Status Bar while running the project.

../../_images/popup_window.png

Attention

  • Please wait for the project to complete loading before running the project.

    If you do not select any options in the Version compatibility pop-up window when you open Mech-Viz, and click Run in Mech-Center directly, a message saying that “Project loading by Mech-Viz in progress. Failed to start the Mech-Viz project: XXX” will appear in the log panel in Mech-Center. In this case, please select Yes in the Version compatibility window and then click Run in Mech-Center to run the project again.

  • When the real robot is working, please ensure the safety of personnel. When an emergency occurs, please press the emergency stop button on the robot teach pendant.

Example Mech-Viz Projects for Standard Interface

In the file location of Mech-Center, in the folder tool\viz_project, there are four example Mech-Viz projects for using Standard Interface.

Check_collision

For path planning and collision detection in vision-guided picking.

Outer_move

For the scenarios in which the robot needs to move to a pose passed in from an external client.

Suction_zone

For using multiple suction cup sections (or array grippers) through DO signals.

Vision_result_reuse

For the scenarios in which the vision result returned at a time need to be used multiple times for path planning and collision detection in vision-guided picking.