Virtek Iris Projectors

Software Setup

You can download and install the latest supported drivers from our webpage here:

http://www.kinematics.com/ftp/SA/Install/Driver%20Downloads/Projectors/Virtek/

You will need the following files:

 

Installation

Contact Virtek for additional information on initial setup of your system with the Virtek software, but in general you will need to:

  1. Unzip and install the _Support_ Virtek Iris 3D Software.zip. Follow the manufacturer directions for all Virtek software installation.

  2. Restart your computer.

You will also need to add the dll files to your SA installation:

  1. Unzip and copy the VirtekProjectorDLLs into the x64 folder of the installation directory for you SA version.

The installation directory can be found here:

C:\Program Files (x86)\New River Kinematics\SpatialAnalyzer XXX.X\x64

 

Projector Licensing

Contact Virtek to ensure you have the necessary licence to run the projector on the designated computer. This may require running a license request utility on the machine and sending the resulting request file to Virtek to get a license.

 

Network Configuration

Be sure to create a fixed IP address on your computer that will be compatible with the IP address of your projector(s) or use a direct connection and a DHCP setting. The default IP address should be stamped on the front of your projector. For example, if your projector’s IP address is 192.168.3.2, then you need to change your computer’s IP address to 192.168.3.X; where X is between 1 and 255 (and use a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0).

 

Work Order and Directory Configuration

Virtek projectors use a layered structure:

To get started, the following must be set:

  1. At least one Work Order must be defined. This will include a *.cal file, a *.xgal file and a *.xtar file which should not be edited.

  2. At least one *.ply file must exist in that Work Order. This is a projection file and is used each time you add a projection from SA.

Work Orders are found in the following directly by default:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Virtek\Vertek Server\Work Orders

The easiest way to add a new Work Order, particularly if you do not have one yet is to use an MP command. Refer to the MP Command list.

 

SA Interface to the Virtek Projector

  1. Select Instrument>Add and choose the Virtek Laser Projector. This will add a projector station to the SA job file.

  2. Press Connect to run the instrument interface module or select Instrument>Run Interface Module and Connect.

  3. Select the projector model you added to the job file and press OK. This will open the Virtek Projection interface dialog shown below.

  4. Within the Client ID field enter the name of the Work Cell to connect to. This tells SA what projector to connect to and where to look for Work Orders.

 

 

Aligning the Projector

There are two methods of aligning the projector in SA: Auto Align and Manual Align. A manual alignment must be performed once in order to orient the instrument in the Work cell. This alignment is then saved with the Work Order and auto align can be then performed to update the instruments transform in the job and can be used as a drift check.

Clear Alignment and Update Transform are options that should not be needed unless something goes wrong in the normal sequence of automatic communications with the projector.

 

To Perform a Manual Alignment

Each Work Order has one and only one alignment saved with it.

  1. Import or Measure Alignment Points. Import points from a file or just measure at least six reflector positions with a separate instrument within the field of view of the projector. The Toggle FOV and + button can be used to display the projector visible region and the center point in that view.

  2. Select the Manual Align button. The option Instrument>Laser Projector>Alignment is not used with a Virtek projector.

  3. Select the instrument to align and then the reference point group for alignment.

  4. Use the manual alignment utility pictured in to point the laser at each registration point in order by name. To do so, Left-Click and hold while dragging the mouse. This drives the laser pointer relative to the cross hairs in the dialog and, in turn, drives the projector beam to the reflector point. Once aimed correctly, right-click to scan the target. Perform these steps for each point in the reference group.

After each of the individual target locations have been identified in this fashion, these points will be automatically re-measured and the alignment will be performed. Alignment results are saved within the instrument history.

 

Projection Shapes from SA

The Virtek Interface provides the tools to project points and objects selected within SA. To project an object it must first be translated into guide points and saved into a projection file within a Work Order.

Creating Projecting Files

In order to add a new projection to a work order. Perform the following Steps:

  1. Ensure that the desired Work Order is Open by selecting it in the list. The projections in this work order will then be shown within the projections list.

  2. From SA select Instrument>Laser Projector>Project Objects

If this command is issued when you have a valid Work Order opened and aligned, it will add the selected object(s) to the Work Order. The name of the first object selected will be added to that open Work Order’s Project (plies) list in the UI. It will be automatically selected, and projected. So the .ply file in this open Work Order will have been edited to include the selected object(s).

If this command is issued when you have just created a new Work Order (see “Select or Create Work Order []” command above) then that Work Order cannot yet be opened, but the command will create or edit the Work Order’s .ply file to include the selected object(s). The name of the first object selected will appear in that Work Order’s Project (plies) list in the UI once the Work Order can be opened and has been aligned.

If this command is issued when you have a valid Work Order selected, but not opened, the command will first attempt to open the Work Order, and then add the projection to it, and attempt projection.

If this command is issued when you have no valid work order selected at all, you’ll get a notification at the bottom of the interface, saying “No Work Order selected in WO List.”

 

Navigating Between Projection Files

In order to project patterns from a previously created work order file, simply select the work order and then select the desired object to project from the list.

Click Current to project the part shown. You can utilize the Pause and Resume buttons to control projection of the current part file and the patterns it contains.

Select Next and Previous to toggle through part files in the currently selected work order.

 

MP/SDK Control Options

Instrument Operational Check Commands

 

Basic Operations

Project Objects This is NOT a string command, but a standard MP command. Note that the arguments are “Instrument ID” as with any other command, and “Objects To Project”. This second argument can be selected from the SA job, or for a projection object (perimeter, b-spline, etc.) that has been created within the MP, this can be a reference to that object or objects.
Stop Projection This stand alone command cancels any projection from the selected instrument.