How to create a new Project in WINCAPS III

Step 1

Open WINCAPS III from your start menu or shortcut respectively:

Step 2

You will now see the WINCAPS III log in screen.  There is not a password that needs to be worried about.  From this screen, select “1 – Programmer” from the User level drop down.  Then press and hold the SHIFT Key, then press the down arrow to bypass this screen  (Shift + ↓)

Step 3

Now you see a blank WINCAPS III Screen.  Now click on File → New Project

Step 4

You will see the New Project Wizard.  Here you can choose between the following:

1. Creating a new project manually, including robot type, IO type, etc. This is best for creating simulations, or creating new projects for later use on a controller.
2. Getting information from a controller for creating a new project.  This option copies the current project from your connected controller into WINCAPS III.  This includes arm data, calibration data, variables, positions, coordinate system, parameters, offsets, I/O among others. This option is chosen if you want to create a complete backup of your existing system. 

IMPORTANT:
 
If you create a backup of your controller, you now have 2 copies of the same project: one on the controller and one in WINCAPS III. If you edit one, it does not update the other. You will need to transfer the new data from one copy to the other (see Project Transfer). Be mindful of what information is where.

Step 5

For this article, we will be selecting a robot type manually. Select the first option and press OK.  You will be prompted to enter a project name, and a destination save folder. Then click Next.

1. Note: 
You are setting the Project name, this is different from individual program names.  You can only have a single robot for a single project, but you can have multiple programs under a single project.

2. Note: 
The default save folder can be changed to a more convenient save location as needed from the Tool → Options menu after project creation.

Step 6

You will now select a robot type.  You can choose from any robot that is compatible with an RC7 or an RC8 controller.  This includes all the various arm lengths, shaft lengths, IP ratings etc. When finished, select Next.

Step 7

After selecting your robot type, you’ll come to the Select controller specifications screen.  It is here that you will choose robot model specific options for your project.  If this is a project that you will eventually be transferring to a real controller/robot arm, you want to make sure the options selected match, as there is no changing these in the project after the fact.  Click Next when finished.

Step 8

Now you will choose the connection method.  This will set the default IP address of the project.  However, when setting this up manually this step can be skipped and simply click Next.

Step 9

Now you can choose how many of each global variable type you desire for your project.  These quantities can be adjusted after project creation as needed.  When finished click Next.

Step 10

On this you can choose what IO device and settings you desire.  It defaults to DENSO’s Mini IO, but can be changed to whatever schema you will be using.  This too can be changed after project creation.  When finished click Next.

Step 11

This final screen merely summarizes the options you’ve chosen thus far.  If everything is correct, you have the following options.  When you’ve made your selection, click Finish.

• Do nothing: This will proceed with project creation, and not create any programs automatically.
• Receive data from the controller: This will transfer data from the controller into WINCAPS.  This used if you’re backing up the controller into WINCAPS.
• Run the program Template: this option will open up the Program template wizard, and allow you to set up a program via a wizard.
• Execute the Easy setting: this option is available depending on what robot type is selected. It is a wizard that prompts you to enter the mass of payload, center of gravity, moment of inertia, and tooling offsets if desired

Step 12

You will now see a loading screen, and then your WINCAPS project now loaded.  From here you are able to add a program, and begin creating your project. 

• If you are attempting to restore the factory settings to your controller, then transfer this blank project to the controller to overwrite what is currently on the controller.