The graphical user interface for the Guidance Dispense Application is composed of a series of web pages. These web pages are stored on the robot controller's flash memory along with the application software. They can be viewed either locally or remotely from a PC using Internet Explorer. Since both the web pages and the application software are stored in the controller, there is never a problem of inconsistencies between the user interface and the application software.
At the top of each web page, you will see the name of the software application, the top-level navigation bar and a red “Disable Power” button.
WARNING: The "Disable Power" button is provided as a convenience for turning off power to the robot’s motors. However, this should not be confused with a hardwired E-Stop button. A hardwired E-Stop button directly connects to the controller hardware and guarantees that the motor power will be quickly disabled. The Disable Power button relies upon the proper operation of software to function.
The navigation bar allows you to quickly switch between main web pages and access their functions. In the case of the "Operator Control Panel" web page pictured above, all of the operations are available in a single panel. For other pages, a list of sub-pages is displayed in a table on the left. Clicking on listed topics in the left table displays sub-panels that present additional information.
The following briefly describes the contents of the pages associated with each of the tabs on the main navigation bar. Each of these web pages and their sub-panels are described in greater detail later in this chapter.
Main Navigation Bar Summary
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Selects, starts and stops the execution of a dispensing Process. It also contains diagnostic and debugging aids such as: buttons for enabling and disabling motor power, buttons for reducing the speed of the entire Process, a checkbox for disabling output of dispensing signals, and a system messages display. |
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Accesses a series of panels for creating, editing and managing dispensing Processes, Paths and Nodes. Paths can be created and individual Nodes can be added or removed from a Path. Nodes can be edited including the specification of their Type, position and dispensing operation. Processes can be constructed by specifying the Paths that they contain. |
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Presents a series of panels that define system configuration and parameter data. For example, this provides a step-by-step process for defining the Global Frame and a panel for configuring the digital IO signals that control the air dispenser and its teaching buttons. |
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Displays the Virtual Manual Control Pendant (VMCP) in a separate web page window. The VMCP provides the same functionality available from a hardware Manual Control Pendant, i.e. the ability to manually move the robot in various modes and display the current robot position. |
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Provides help information on the various web pages along with tutorial examples. |
As an aid in learning how to use the Guidance Dispense
application, a number of web pages and panels contain a help
hot spot marked by . When
you click on this icon, help information
will be displayed in a new window.