NOTE: This guide describes setting up Halcon with a Gocator sensor running firmware version 3.6. For information on setting up Halcon with a Gocator sensor running firmware version 4.0 or later, see the Interfacing with Halcon section of the appropriate user manual.

MvTec Halcon is a comprehensive software package for machine vision applications with an integrated development environment. Gocator includes a GenTL driver that can be used to stream 3D height map (range map) and intensity data into Halcon in real-time. This document explains how to directly interface a Gocator sensor to MvTec Halcon.

NOTE: As of Gocator firmware version 4.6, multi-sensor systems can be set up and aligned directly in the web interface. This application guide, which describes setting up such systems using the SDK, is therefore no longer the only method for multi-sensor control and setup.

Gocator sensors can be synchronized to scan large objects at high resolution. A common requirement is to precisely control the timing of each sensor to avoid interference in areas where the measurement zones overlap, often referred to as “cross talk” between sensors.

The application note explains how users can work with the Gocator Software Development Kit (SDK) to fully control the multi-sensor system.

This application note includes example code developed using the Gocator Software Development Kit.

NOTE: As of Gocator firmware version 4.6, multi-sensor systems can be set up and aligned directly in the web interface. This application guide, which describes setting up such systems using the SDK, is therefore no longer the only method for multi-sensor alignment.

This application note demonstrates how a synchronized network of three or more Gocator sensors mounted side by side to scan a wide and generally flat target surface can be system calibrated. After system calibration, data from all sensors are reported in a common coordinate system.

Typical applications are scanning a wide road surface or measuring the dimensions of large size metal ingots.

This application note includes example code developed using the Gocator Software Development Kit.

Gocator is officially certified to communicate to Allen-Bradley and other major brand PLCs using the industry standard EtherNet/IP protocol. Through EtherNet/IP, the PLC can control the operation of the Gocator and receive 3D measurements and pass/fail results without any software development effort.

This application note demonstrates how to interface to a Gocator using the EtherNet/IP protocol. The programming tool used to create the examples is RSLogix 5000.

Implicit messaging has advantages and disadvantages. Implicit messaging is faster than explicit messaging and is therefore ideal for time-critical applications. However, data delivery is not guaranteed when using implicit messaging, so it is more suited to applications where occasional data loss is acceptable.

This guide describes how to set up implicit messaging (Cyclic and Change of State) with Allen-Bradley PLCs. The RSLogix 5000 programming tool is used.

Stemmer Imaging Common Vision Blox (CVB) is an open architecture, hardware independent toolkit for 3D image processing. Gocator users can use the included GenTL driver to stream 3D height map (range map) and intensity images into CVB in real-time.

This document explains how to directly interface a Gocator sensor to the CVB. It also explains how to interface to Teledyne Sherlock Software thru the CVB to Sherlock driver.

The Gocator 4.x interface builds on the Gocator 3.x interface, greatly improving the workflow in setting up a sensor and providing much new functionality. This guide describes the differences between setting up sensors using the Gocator 3.x and Gocator 4.x interface.

In a dual sensor system, two Gocator sensors work together to measure an object, typically in order to cover a wider Field of View or to measure thickness. The sensor system can deliver combined 3D-data in a common coordinate frame, provided by the Gocator's built-in alignment calibration support.

This application note demonstrates how to setup and utilize the Gocator's built-in support for dual sensor operation.

Gocator supports various protocols that let the sensor communicate directly with a PLC. If your PLC uses a protocol not supported by Gocator, you must convert between the unsupported protocol and a supported one.

This guide shows how to interface to a Gocator via the CANopen protocol, using a Hilscher gateway to convert from CANopen to the Modbus protocol, which is supported by the Gocator.

This application note demonstrates how to create Gocator scripts through a series of examples. A script measurement can be used to program a custom measurement using a simplified C-based syntax. Similar to other measurement tools, a script measurement can produce measurement values and measurement decisions.

This application note demonstrates how to create Gocator scripts through a series of examples. A script measurement can be used to program a custom measurement using a simplified C-based syntax. Similar to other measurement tools, a script measurement can produce measurement values and measurement decisions.

Stemmer Imaging Common Vision Blox (CVB) is an open architecture, hardware independent toolkit for 3D image processing. Gocator users can use the included GenTL driver to stream 3D height map (range map) and intensity images into CVB in real-time.

This document explains how to directly interface a Gocator sensor to the CVB. It also explains how to interface to Teledyne Sherlock Software thru the CVB to Sherlock driver.

HexSight is a comprehensive software library of machine vision tools, available as ActiveX controls, C++ DLL libraries, or a .NET DLL assembly. HexSight provides a native driver that can interface to a Gocator sensor directly. This application note explains how to setup the driver to control and acquire data from a Gocator into HexSight in real-time. It also demonstrates how to use the HexSight locator tool, which provides accurate and robust object recognition through geometric shape recognition.

HexSight is a comprehensive software library of machine vision tools, available as ActiveX controls, C++ DLL libraries, or a .NET DLL assembly. HexSight provides a native driver that can interface to a Gocator sensor directly. This application note explains how to setup the driver to control and acquire data from a Gocator into HexSight in real-time. It also demonstrates how to use the HexSight locator tool, which provides accurate and robust object recognition through geometric shape recognition.

National Instrument LabVIEW is a comprehensive software package for controlling measurement and control systems. We provide a set of Virtual Instruments (VIs) for interfacing LabVIEW with Gocator 2x00 sensors. These VIs can be used to control and stream measurement results, intensity and 3D data (as individual profiles or whole part scans) into LabVIEW in real-time for processing and control. This document includes example codes to illustrate how to use the VIs to start/stop the sensors and acquire data in real-time. It also explains how to further expand the functionalities of these VIs.

National Instrument LabVIEW is a comprehensive software package for controlling measurement and control systems. We provide a set of Virtual Instruments (VIs) for interfacing LabVIEW with Gocator 2x00 sensors. These VIs can be used to control and stream measurement results, intensity and 3D data (as individual profiles or whole part scans) into LabVIEW in real-time for processing and control. This document includes example codes to illustrate how to use the VIs to start/stop the sensors and acquire data in real-time. It also explains how to further expand the functionalities of these VIs.

The Gocator SDK can be interface to .Net applications. This document explains and provide examples on how to interface the Gocator SDK in C# and VB.Net applications.

The Gocator 4.x SDK builds on the Gocator 3.x SDK, greatly improving the workflow in setting up a sensor and providing much new functionality. This guide describes the differences between controlling sensors using the Gocator 3.x SDK and the Gocator 4.x SDK.

In a dual sensor system, two Gocator sensors work together to measure an object, typically in order to cover a wider Field of View or to measure thickness. The sensor system can deliver combined 3D-data in a common coordinate frame, provided by the Gocator's built-in alignment calibration support.

This application note demonstrates how to setup and utilize the Gocator's built-in support for dual sensor operation.

Gocator 2320 can reliably measure height on the challenging surfaces often found in electronics manufacturing inspection applications. This document explains how to set up the sensor to achieve height repeatability as low as +/- 5 µm.

Gocator is officially certified to communicate to Omron and other major brand PLCs using the industry standard EtherNet/IP protocol. Through EtherNet/IP, the PLC can control the operation of the Gocator and receive 3D measurements and pass/fail results without any software development effort.

This application note demonstrates how to interface to a Gocator using the EtherNet/IP protocol. The programming tool used to create the examples is CX Programmer.

This guide describes the procedure to upgrade or downgrade Gocator sensors to a desired firmware version via the 4.2 and 3.6 SR4 SDK regardless of firmware version currently loaded on the Gocator. Sample code is included.

Gocator sensors can be synchronized to scan large objects at high resolution. A common requirement is to precisely control the timing of each sensor to avoid interference in areas where the measurement zones overlap, often referred to as “cross talk” between sensors.

The application note explains how users can work with the Gocator Software Development Kit (SDK) to fully control the multi-sensor system.

This application note includes example code developed using the Gocator Software Development Kit.