Operator HMI - User Interface

arnoldgauge

Hi all,

I'd like to put a "traditional" menu-based user interface view for an application on the teach pendant.  While I haven't thought through the functionality, it would look like the normal block buttons you'd see on a traditional HMI.  Things like:

Auto Mode

1. Run Auto Sequence 1 (Behind the scenes load and run a program)
2. Run Auto Sequence 2 (Behind the scenes runs a separate program)
3. etc.

Home All    

Toggle Pneumatic Valves

1. Toggle Valve #1 (Sends a specific Modbus command to the pneumatic valve stack) 
2. Toggle Valve #2 (Sends a specific Modbus command to the pneumatic valve stack) 
3. etc.

Toggle Gripper

1. Open Gripper
2. Close Gripper

How have folks done this in the past?

matthewd92

The way we do that, install an HMI and PLC.  There is no way to modify the UR pendant directly, you would have to write code to overlay the pendant and then use RTDE to wire the overlay to the robot.

We use Siemens PLC's and HMI's with profinet and it is pretty straightforward and the pricing is not too bad. Much less expensive hardware and license fees than you have with AB PLC's.

arnoldgauge

Thanks!  We thought about that, but unfortunately, we don't have PLC expertise in-house so would have to sub it out.  And the pendant makes a great form-factor. 

I was thinking more of a parent-program calling sub-programs.   Or a full-screen UR-Cap that displays a menu simply calls programs or scripts.  While we can train the operators to find the "File - Load" command, an overlay would be nice. 

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Would any experienced programmer with UR-CAP experience be interested in doing this as a paid project?  

matthewd92

Unless something has changed recently, URCaps do not provide run time support or access to the cap from the run screen other than some simple access from the top ribbon.  Someone may be able to do that with a Cap but I think it’s fairly limited access. We’ve been asking UR for HMI type functionality for about 5 years now, I would ask that you submit a request through your distributor as well. The more of us that ask for functionality the more likely we’ll get it.