Beta software, 24.08.2022 (release candidate)

[JuKu]

Long time since new code... The new code was already overdue when life interfered. For details of that, please see viewtopic.php?t=6611.

Before that hurdle, this software was already mostly done and tested. But frankly, I don't even remember where I was. The changes are big enough to have a beta release anyway, and with the pause in development, even more so. For details of the beta, please see https://liteplacer.com/software-release ... -versions/.

Download link to the .exe: https://www.liteplacer.com/Downloads/Li ... 8-2022.exe. This is not an install file; just copy this to your LitePlacer directory. Proceed with caution! Do take regular backups of your LitePlacer directory.

To test, copy the exe to your LitePlacer directory, no install. As far as I know, this will live nicely with the official release, but I still advice taking a backup copy of your LitePlacer directory. The main incompatibility is that job files generated by this beta are not readable by the previous version.

Major changes and additions:

- Up camera assisted placement: This works as you would expect. The part is taken over the up looking camera before placement, and a correction is measured and applied to placement. Please see this page for details: https://liteplacer.com/up-camera-assisted-placement/

- Video to user interface window is scaled to UI resolution. This greatly increases the perceived vision frame rate. Measurements and vision processing still use the full resolution images for precision. For me, this allows me using my ten year old i5-3330s (2.7GHz) computer to use 2048 resolution at 20Hz frame rate.

- Cameras have "properties" button. This allows you to use fixed exposure on cameras, making video processing more reliable. Details are on this page, although there is not much to see: https://liteplacer.com/camera-properties/

Several minor bug fixes added. Also, I would be happy to know if you are running the beta without problems.
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Please report any anomalies, bugs and wishes!
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I'm not sure that this is the best method to handle this, but anyway: I keep this top post linked to most recent version, and note here new uploads. Withdrawn versions:
25-07-2022: Newest version additions to this: Data file backups now go to dated directories; clearer tooltip texts, error messages and some button names; added +10 and -10 button to vision algorithm setup int parameter (greatly helps setting contrast); setting machine size now sets control board limits, too
20-07-2022: Pixel size setting was kept good, box size was not updating correctly from old software.
21-07-2022: New version eliminated an error message at startup and labeled the beta as such on the main window header, so you know what you are running.
22-07-2022: Newest version on 25-07-2022 fixes issues on homing from other than basic setup page. Also, nozzle calibration from nozzle setup page is depreciated now; use "Special Options" on "Setup Vision Processing" page. Data backups now go to dated directories.

[AnalysIR]

Does the nozzle config data get reset for this version?

Mine seems to be empty now.

If not I will restore from backup.

I also noticed that the size of Home Dot/fiducials appears to have changed, Camera settings? Do I need to re-run camera box size/calibration?

[JuKu]

Does the nozzle config data get reset for this version?

Mine seems to be empty now.

If not I will restore from backup.

Shouldn't. I'll look into this, but didn't have time today, I was looking at the issue below.

I also noticed that the size of Home Dot/fiducials appears to have changed, Camera settings? Do I need to re-run camera box size/calibration?

I couldn't reproduce this. However, I could reproduce that the box size was not updating correctly, although (I think that) the pixel size kept constant. If the previous version did change pixel size for you as well, it would explain this. You do need to set the pixel size again if you change camera resolution.

Note,that the box size did change and now changes with zoom and show pixels settings. With high resolution, the old box size was way too small to be really useful.

For the two issues you report: Could I get a copy of your LitePlacer directory? (zip files without the exe are fine, as are links to whatever file server you can use.) This way, I can more sure to find issues and be confident that I have fixed them.

[JuKu]

To make sure everyone following this notices: Updated link to the newest beta in the first post. New similar notices will appear every time the beta is updated.

[JuKu]

I could not reproduce the nozzle config data loss.

[AnalysIR]

I could not reproduce the nozzle config data loss.

OK I will look at it again over the weekend.

The only thing I can think of is that I ran the exe after download, thinking it would be an install/setup file. Maybe that reset the nozzle data. I then exited and proceeded to copy the exe to the directory with all the config data and ran from there.

So I will restore everything and try the update again, being more careful this time.

Is there a way to save & restore nozzle data...or where is it stored.?

[JuKu]

Is there a way to save & restore nozzle data...or where is it stored.?

The data is in LitePlacer directory, LitePlacer.** files. Nozzles have four files. There are backup copies in DataBackup sub-directory. (On my todo-list: Make several generations of these, as it is easy to run the program a few times before realizing there is an issue, making one generation only backup not that useful... )

[JuKu]

Newest version 22.07.2022: Eliminated misleading error messages at startup and labeled the beta as such int he header of the main window to remind you what you are running.

[AnalysIR]

Quick Note: The big homing button when in the nozzle tab does not appear to work. It just goes red when clicked. This may be by design....if so disabling the button or displaying a pop-up message may be better.

Regarding my previous issues, it looks like I was using the wrong backup copy.

[AnalysIR]

Note 2: In the SVP tab, if a home is required and the up camera is selected, the home does not work. The Home should always use the down camera when looking for the dot. It seems it is using the up camera when looking for the dot.