The instructions on how to create and populate a sequence aren’t clear enough or detailed enough for me. I created a new sequence/pattern, but was unable to string together a sequence of frames, each with motion. It isn’t clear how to populate a frame. Do you record at the start or at the finish? How do you populate the second frame? I see the instructions, but they aren’t detailed enough for me. If I could figure out how to do this once, I’m sure I could take it from there.
Also, there were times as I was trying this when the pattern/sequence seemed to change out from under me, without me doing anything, or at least anything I noticed, to change it. I created a pattern named “School Project 1” and, as I was trying to add a frame and populate it, the next thing I noticed, the pattern was back to “Default”.
Can you post all of the clicks and drags and cursor movements (everything) for a new three-frame sequence?
Hi Mark,
Your posts includes many questions, so lets go one step at a time with my responses in-lined with the related questions. First though, please make sure you are using the latest version of FlowArm PLTW, which is version 4. You can download a copy of the newest file here.
If you are using FlowArm PLTW 4, then this may simply be related to one of the new features, which allows associating inputs of the SSC-32U (E, F, G, H) with sequences (see below).
If that is the case for you, you can clear the associated input from the sequence by clicking on the associated input (H in this case). A list will pop-up allowing you to change the associated input to the “F keys” on the keyboard, one of the 4 inputs of the SSC-32U mentioned before or choose “–” which means none. Alternatively, you can also choose Clear All which will remove all associated inputs with all sequences, which may be best for your case.
Please note that if inputs are associated but left floating (nothing connected to them), they may be subject to ambient electrical noise and trigger randomly/unpredictably.
Please let us know which instructions you are referring too. We would be happy to receive any feedback and make corrections or updates as needed to help out our customers. If something is not clear to you, it most likely is not clear for at least a few others also (but they did not mention it). It would be great if you can provide us with direct URLs to the resources you have using so we can have a look.
We can certainly provide you with a simple example to create a sequence. First, start with a new, empty sequence, created by pressing the plus sign next tot he sequence list:
Please note you can also rename your sequences by clicking the name and typing a different one once the text cursor shows up.
Then, place the arm in the position you want the sequence to start it (this includes base, the arm itself, the wrist and gripper). Once done positioning it as needed, press the Insert frame button:
Please note you can also double-click a frame to give it a name (i.e.: a label). Clicking a frame also plays it, so be careful if your arm is powered. You can toggle the large STOP button first, to prevent motion while creating the sequence or adding labels to frames.
To add more frames, simply move the arm again to a new position and press the Insert frame button. Repeat this step as many times as needed to create your sequence.
You can also change the length (time-wise) of frames by dragging their right-most edge to change the size of the frame (and therefore its duration). Here is an example of a 3-frame pattern with various lengths (different from the default one):
