Mech-Center 1.6.1 Release Notes

This section introduces the new features, improvements, and resolved issues of Mech-Center 1.6.1.

New Features

Support Modbus TCP Protocol

Mech-Center 1.6.1 can be used as a slave device software, providing the standard interface option MODBUS TCP SLAVE for data communication with the master device (PLC or robot controller).

You need to set the slave IP, port number, host address, and byte order in Mech-Interface ‣ Deployment Settings. For specific samples, please see Modbus TCP: Siemens SIMATIC S7 PLC and Modbus TCP: Mitsubishi Q series PLC.

Support Standard Interface Integration with UR Robot

Mech-Center 1.6.1 has the newly added URCap plugin Mech-Mind 3D Vision Interface, which supports the seamless integration of UR robots with the Mech-Mind Vision System through the Standard Interface.

The plugin provides plug-and-play programming templates to reduce programming difficulty for users and instantly enable UR robots to perform vision-guided picking tasks.

The plugin supports the following UR robots:

  • UR E series (Polyscope 5.3 and higher)

  • UR CB series (Polyscope 3.9 and higher)

Support Standard Interface Integration with TM Robot

Mech-Center 1.6.1 has added a TM Standard Interface program. The integration of the robot with the Mech-Mind Vision System can be implemented instantly by burning the TM standard interface program to the TM robot.

Updated the TM Master-control Program

Mech-Center 1.6.1 has been re-adapted to the newer-version TM robot system. After upgrading the software, please re-load the TM master-control burn-in program.

Added Version Check for FANUC, ABB, KUKA, and Kawasaki Robot-side Master-control Burn-in Programs

To avoid errors in flange poses during calibration due to the out-of-date programs on the robot side, Mech-Center 1.6.1 added a version check function for the master-control programs of FANUC, ABB, KUKA, and Kawasaki.

Attention

Version check will be performed only when the master-control function is upgraded and the robot program version needs to be updated. Therefore, it is not necessary to re-load the robot program every time the software is upgraded. For temporary master-control, or if the master-control program has been modified on-site, the technical support team can help upgrade the robot program to be compatible with Mech-Center 1.6.1.

Improvements

Added a Pop-up Prompt When a Virtual Camera Was Detected

When a Mech-Vision project uses a virtual camera to guide a real robot, the software will pop up a window to remind the potential risks of the ongoing operation to avoid production accidents caused when the user forgets to switch the virtual camera to a real camera in Mech-Vision.

Added the Function of Sending Flange Pose for Command 201 of the Standard Interface

To avoid the position error caused by using joint angle calculation under EIH, Mech-Center 1.6.1 has the new function of sending the flange pose with command 201 of the Standard Interface, which helps more accurately set the robot poses for image capturing.

Optimized Error Log Messages

In Mech-Center 1.6.1, the log can print error codes for some error messages, and the log supports linking to instructions related to the error codes in the user manual. This improvement helps you intuitively understand the codes and error messages received by the robot, thus quickly locating and solving problems.

Optimized the Sync Button of the Mech-Vision Project List

In Mech-Center versions earlier than 1.6.1, when the Sync button was clicked, the entire project numbering would be reset to the order in which Mech-Vision auto-loaded the projects, after which the order you edited would be reset. In Mech-Center 1.6.1, the Sync button has been optimized to facilitate adding Mech-Vision projects.

Attention

  • After adding a new project in Mech-Vision, clicking the project list Sync button in Mech-Center will not affect the order of previous projects.

  • When deleting or renaming a project in Mech-Vision, the project’s number in Mech-Center will be reset. Before clicking the Sync button, please keep a record of the original order.

Interface Optimizations

If Mech-Vision and Mech-Viz are already running, clicking Start on the toolbar of Mech-Center will bring the Mech-Vision and Mech-Viz software windows to the front.

Resolved Issues

Failed to Start Automatically After the Computer Was Started

Mech-Center 1.6.0 might fail to start automatically after the computer was started. This issue has been fixed in Mech-Center 1.6.1.

Siemens Snap7 Interface Service Failed to Start

The issue that Siemens Snap7 interface service failed to start has been fixed in Mech-Center 1.6.1.

Slow Startup of the Mech-Vision and Mech-Viz Software

The issue of slow startup of the Mech-Vision and Mech-Viz software has been fixed in Mech-Center 1.6.1.

Issues in Kawasaki, ABB, YASKAWA Standard Interface Example Programs

In Mech-Center 1.6.1, the running errors of Kawasaki, ABB, YASKAWA Standard Interface example programs have been fixed.