We have a PC application that creates a set of robot positions (then sends them to KR C via Ethernet) and we'd like to have some collision check before executing the route with our robot. To that end, I've been looking at SimPro. When we got the robot we also received a product Key for SimPro, so that seems like a good way to do our collision check. Do I need to run OfficeLite to get this to work? Can I just write the positions to a file and open them with SimPro? The reason I am asking is because our copy of OfficeLite (5.2) is made for XP (and Microsoft Java!) and will not run on this Windows7 PC. I do not want to have to deal with IT to get a virtual machine installed on this PC. In addition to the software, we also received an emulator from Kuka, an "Office Programming System" (model: Seria). I was wondering if I could connect that to SimPro and our PC application to do the collision check. That Seria is a computer that is the same as what's in our KR C2, it even has an HMI attached. Any suggestions on getting collision checking up and running?
Collision Detection --- SimPro, OfficeLite, Office Programming System (Seria)
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thehandoftheking -
July 8, 2013 at 6:26 PM -
Thread is marked as Resolved.
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It seems silly to mess with VM's and XP to run OfficeLite when we have this emulator, or "Office Programming System" sitting right here. Is there a way to control SimPro from the emulator?
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I've never done it, but I'm pretty sure I've seen it done (I'm not familiar with your specific simulator, but I'm assuming it's a standard KUKA Office PC or similar). If I recall correctly, you need a network connection between the "controller" (either OfficeLite or a standalone KUKA Office PC), and the computer running SimPro. This can be done on the same computer, but I'm not sure it's a good idea to try installing SimPro onto an Office PC -- keeping them on separate machines will probably minimize the potential issues.
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I got a copy of XP, so I have the two options: run SimPro in Windows7 and connect to the KUKA Office PC or install a virtual machine and run both SimPro and OfficeLite there. Information for the communication setup is pasted below. It is not very clear to me how to proceed in either case (Office PC or virtual machine). Opinions?
QuoteThe connection between the KUKA Sim Pro and the KUKA Office Lite / KUKA Office PC is based on RRS2 communication. The program and the information about the target positions etc. resides on the virtual controller. The program executed is the real KRC program, which may or may not be created with the KUKA Sim Pro. The consistency data management allows you to view and modify that data in the KUKA Sim Pro. The changes are effective immediately and they cannot be rejected, so make sure that you have a full backup of your programs before modifying them.
Setting Up
There may be unlimited amount of simultaneous connections. The communication is based on RRS2 standard, that in turn is built on ONC RPC communication protocol. In order for the communication to work, the firewalls between the KUKA Sim Pro and the KUKA virtual controller must be configured to allow the trafic the protocols require..
The KUKA Sim Pro and the KUKA virtual controller may reside on the same or on a different computer. In the latter case, both computers need to have a portmap service running. The portmap service is a service that all the ONC RPC based communication applications are relying on. In practice, the connection is established as follows :
1. KUKA Sim Pro sends connection request to the portmap service of the computer running KUKA Vrc Manager
2. Portmap service establishes the socket connection between KUKA Sim Pro and KUKA Vrc Manager
3. KUKA Vrc Manager launches KUKA Vrc Instance and tells it to connect to KUKA Sim Pro
4. KUKA Vrc Instance sends connection request to the portmap service of the computer running KUKA Sim Pro
5. Portmap service establishes the socket connection between KUKA Vrc Instance and KUKA Sim ProNow a full 2 way connection is established. From the above your network administrator can see, how the firewalls have to be configured in order for the communication to work:
1. In Both computers the portmap service must allow to host the port 111.
2. You must use hostnames that are recognized by your computers.On the KRC Page the 'Local Host Name' must be a name that is regocnized by the computer running the KUKA Virtual Controller. If the name service is not configured, you must use the IP Address instead of the hostname. Do not use 192.0.0.X either, as that is the WinVx virtual network address. The same thing applies to the Vrc Manager HostName, except, that that is the name of the computer running the KUKA Virtual Controller. If you are running both KUKASim Pro and KUKA Virtual Controller on the same computer you can use ip address 127.0.0.1. If it appears, as the communication is established, the robot is not moving in the simulation world, the reason usually is that the firewall settings are not correct, or that the 'Local Host Name' is not recognized by the computer running the KUKA Virtual Controller.
Note --- If you are using KUKA Virtual Controller in a computer running personal firewall, you must configure it to accept the network 192.0.0.X as trusted.
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Probably either approach would work, but I know from experience that OfficeLite tends to have some performance issues when running inside a virtual machine. Nothing terrible, but annoying. I would probably lean towards using two separate computers, myself.
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Two speedbumps (hopefully not roadblocks):
1. I cannot locate our activation code for OfficeLite (we got the software and Office PC seven years ago)
2. I do not know the username and password for the Office PCUsing the Office PC to control Sim Pro seems like a nice system but one that would require some networking skills.
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What version of OfficeLite? The 5.x versions should only require a license file. If you pull the .lic file from the robot's hard drive and send it to KUKA, there shouldn't be any issues getting them to provide an updated license file.
The Office PC... hm. That's harder. Was the user/password set up by KUKA, or by someone in your office? Is this the Windows password, or is there a separate login for the KUKA software?
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Not knowing where to look, I used the Windows search function to find the .lic file on our KR C2. The search returned no results. Do you know where it is?
I am guessing KUKA set up the password on the Office PC. It is the Windows password, just the login screen.
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No, only OfficeLite uses a .lic file. And that's only for versions 5.x.
On the OfficePC, what is the default user name? If KUKA set it up, the documentation should record the factory default username and password. Assuming they set up the OfficePC like a typical post-2005 KRC2, the user would be "Administrator" and the password would be "kukarobxpe2"
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Quote
If you pull the .lic file from the robot's hard drive and send it to KUKA, there shouldn't be any issues getting them to provide an updated license file.
To what robot are you referring? Also, when you say "send it to KUKA," do you mean Hotline?
QuoteOn the OfficePC, what is the default user name?
I don't know because I've been trying various names.
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Argh!
I meant "OfficeLite," not "robot."
As for who to send it to, there's an email address at KUKA Germany that handles all licensing items. It's in the OfficeLite docs. I don't think there's a licensing app or anything you need to run -- that's only for FTC, IIRC. But it *has* been a while.