trigger 1454

[BruceAmmons]

So what is the question???

Bruce

[Median9]

I am sorry for this, i think the question did not appear at all. except for my signature   Very new to NI CVS. Let me explain once again:

We have a CVS 1454 with Prosilica EC640 camera. We are totally confused about the Trigger/Rejection Sequence. I managed to get some better images and find some methods of processing. We are short of time. The things that are bothering me at the moment are the Trigger and Rejection.

1- Where should i look for setting the trigger Input before each loop? Is it there on the 'Communicate' tab in the tools pallette on the right? Or
'Configure inputs/outputs' on the top of the page?

2- Same confusion goes for the Camera Trigger. I know it will be 5 VDC output bit. But where and how should i program it? Where in VBAI?

As i see it, the program breaks down into the following steps:

a- Wait for the trigger input from the Proximity Sensor or Switch that gives 24 VDC taken from Viso.
b- Trigger out the camera when trigger comes in from step 'a'.
c- Process the image coming from the camera and look for any abnormalities in the part.
d- Output a rejection Pulse If there was an 'Error' OR do nothing if everything is OK.
e- Loop back to step 'a'.

I have no clues for points a, b and d. I tried out the 'Configure inputs/outputs' button on the top of the page but i couldn't check if it really worked?? Still i have in my mind the specific bits on the 37 pin termincal block (ISO input 5 (Pin 15) for the trigger from Proximity Sensor, TTLOUT 1 (Pin 5) for rejection pulse, and TTL OUT 3 (Pin 😎 for camera pulse). I think of using TTL OUT pins since they give precise pulse widths, but i would love to know if i can output precise pulses on one of the ISO Output pins as they can give 24 VDC which is required by the PLC for the rejection signal here.

e- Should i wait for a short (low-high-low) pulse or a change in state (low-high) for 'part present' signal? Where and How to set these states in VBAI?

f- How to set the pulse width (say 20 ms) for camera trigger? Where should i do this in VBAI?

I will really appreciate if you could guide me where and how to set these signals?

Looking forward to your kind response.
Best regards,
SUNSHINE MEDICAL CORPORATION,
Mirza, M. Faisal (M.S. Mechatronics).

[s_a_s]

Hello,

I'll see what I can do to address your questions here about Triggering in Vision Builder for Automated Inspection (VBAI).


Triggering is set up in the acquire step by clicking on the Trigger tab while the acquire step is selected.  Triggering is best done by directly triggering the camera from your proximity sensor thus bypassing the timing delays introduced by signal propigation through the system.  The exact process for tringgering your camera should be found in the user manual for the camera.  A hardware solution is the best bet here.

The rejection pulse can be set up by clicking Tools >> Configure Inputs/Outputs and selecting the input selection appropriate to your system and then clicking Setup to customize the I/O.

I know this doesn't address all of your questions, but I wanted to get something out to you since you are working under some time pressure.  Let me know if this helps you get the triggering part working.  If so, we can move on to the next steps of getting the I/O working properly and addressing your questions about adjusting the pulse widths in VBAI (which I don't think is possible).

Regards,

[Median9]

Dear Arves,

Thanks a lot for your very realistic answer. You are correct, the CVS is not providing me any possibility to adjust the pulse.width. I wanted to get some advice before going on-site and experimenting with the system. Anyhow, it is already 5 days on-site now, so far so good situation here. I came to know that pulse width is not important. I got the preliminary settings done to get the system running. I took the 24 VDC trigger pulse on the ISO Input 8, gave the corresponding 5 V trigger pulse to camera through TTL OUT 3, and gave 24 VDC Rejection Pulse through ISO Output 2. I finally came to know how simple CVS could be when it comes to deploying relatively simple projects. But i still have 2 questions unanswered:

1- When the camera trigger times out (after a couple of seconds in this application), the system gives Rejection output, even when the object is OK. I tried the decision making step to avoid timeout, but some logic seems missing.

2- How to delete files on the C:\ drive of the CVS? This is very important for me to know because i had to Format and reinstall all the software on the CVS because its Drive C had run out of space and it was not starting up at all.

Your support is highly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Faisal Mirza.

[DJ_L.]

Hey Faisal Mirza,

To answer your latest questions:

Question 1 - When the camera trigger times out (after a couple of seconds in this application), the system gives Rejection output, even when the object is OK. I tried the decision making step to avoid timeout, but some logic seems missing.

A: 1) If the camera trigger times out, then it is expected that the step will fail, thus causing the part to be a rejected part and thus causing a Rejection output. So you can either increase your timeout period to a much higher time, so that the application does not time out, or you can change the way that you trigger the camera so that you make sure that you always recieve an image whether the part is ready or not.

Question 2 - How to delete files on the C:\ drive of the CVS? This is very important for me to know because i had to Format and reinstall all the software on the CVS because its Drive C had run out of space and it was not starting up at all.

A: 2) The CVS does not have a C:\ drive on it. It has a root directory, which is probably what you are referring to, and it is just "/". To access this directory and to be able to delete files, I would suggest that you use the File Transfer utility that you can access in MAX. To open the File Transfer utility, right click on your CVS in MAX and select "File Transfer". This will open up the File Transfer utility that will allow you to move files and delete files. Be careful to what you delete on the CVS, as there are some files that are needed to run applications such as VBAI apps. The other way that you can delete files is you can FTP into the CVS and manipulate the files and data that way.

I hope this answers your questions. I hope this gets you up and running. Good luck and have a great day.

Regards,
DJ L.

[Median9]

Dear DJ,

Thanks for your response. And all others who responded to my query so far.

1) I did try MAX, but to no avail. I also tried windows explorer, but it did not work either. I cannot see the CVS at all in the explorer. MAX is also not working. I do not see any thing like 'file transfer' ftp in MAX when i right click it.

2) The other thing is, i cannot change the way i trigger the camera. The machine that i have installed the CVS on has a variable speed. So i need to be in sync with it all the time. I even changed the trigger time out to 6 seconds, but the machine frequently stops for about 1 - 2 minutes. Now when i change the timeout to 1 minute (60 seconds), the VBAI hangs up. No response. So i have to change it again to 6 seconds. The only problem is that when the trigger times out, all the images are also FAIL. So even i put a logic in the decision making step, it always FAILs because the image itself FAILs in the first place after timeout. It is not working 😞

3) Is there a way to change the logo on the VGA monitor when the CVS starts up?

Regards,

[DJ_L.]

Hey Mirza, M. Faisal, 

1) If you do not see the "file transfer" utility in MAX, then you probably have an older version of the 1394 driver installed. I assumed that you have the most recent, but I guess you don't. This would be a good time to mention that it would be helpful if you post what software versions that you have when you ask a question, which will help the people who answer your questions give you suggestions. So, you can either update to the newest NI-IMAQ for IEEE 1394 driver, and then you can use the file transfer utility, or you can use the version that you already have and then you can still just FTP into the CVS.

2) Since you cannot change the way you trigger the camera, and you need to wait for a long time, then I would suggest that you use the Run LabVIEW Step in VBAI (either have this step in the beginning of your VBAI script before the triggered acquisision, or at the end of your script), and in the LabVIEW code, have it loop and wait for some kind of signal to let the CVS know that there is going to be a long waiting period, or to have some signal that will let the VBAI program know that it needs to get ready to trigger the camera. You need to have some way to make the step not timeout and therefore fail the part or step. Again, what version of VBAI do you have, as this will determine if you have the Run LV VI Step or not. Please let us know what versions of your software that you have. Thanks.

3) I don't believe there is a way to change the logo on the VGA monitor output when the CVS starts up, but I will continue to see if there is a way or not.

I hope this answers your questions. Let us know if you have anything else. Thanks, and have a great day.

Regards,

DJ L.

[Median9]

Thanks DJ,

I am using NI-IMAQ for IEEE 1394 Version 2.0.1 and VBAI Version 2.6.1. Do let me know if these are latest ones? Because i was told they are.

Further, i do not see RUN LV VI anywhere in the VBAI interface. Is it located in the INSPECTION STEPS on the right?

Regards,

[Median9]

Dear DJ,

I just found the RUN LV VI control in the Inspection Steps. So please disregard this query in my last message.

Regards,