Displaying Animated Solidworks Models of Machines Assemblies on a PanelView HMI FactoryTalk ME

[StickerFlicker]

Hey everyone and anyone that can lend a helping hand. I have a project that I am being asked to add some animations of Solidworks or "3D" models of machine assemblies into a AB Panelview Plus 700. The goal is to add troubleshooting assistance. The HMI is running a labeling machine with various faults from sensors and whatnot, the customer has lots of turn over and wants a intuitive way for the operators to know how to what any fault is when it occurs and how to resolve it.

Current state of the machines HMI is:
-Has alarm banner on Main Display, this pops up whenever a fault occurs and lists the names of only active faults.
-There is also a "Fault Screen" this has screen navigation buttons for all the faults of the machine in like a table format and when a fault is active there is a indicator next to each fault that will become visible. The operator can push the screen navigation button for any fault and it will jump to that specific fault's screen which has a description of the fault and how to resolve it, and a picture of the machines fault location/device/sensor.

The office printer has 3D animations on how to clear a paper jam, so I would think Rockwell would have to have way of adding something similar?

The idea is simple, I just haven't done this before and wondering if anyone else has helpful suggestions or "Do's/Don't".

Thanks for anything

 

[JeffKiper]

I have done this with several different HMI. It was always static pictures that I used display controls for. The graphic artist that did all the 3D rendering had to create screen shots with the images in multiple colors. I would have that image alternate between them when it was a certain state. They used color green (running), light grey (off), red /yellow (alarm /fault).

So it was a lot of static images that we had to use and control.

 

[robertmee]

I've done this on PVs with a video player and video guides for maintenance and trouble shooting. If you can get solid works into a viewable format on PV, should be feasible. But native solid works file formats aren't going to be supported on a PV.

With that said, from personal experience, it will be a waste of time. Operators are creatures of habit, and will learn to trouble shoot by trial and error and aren't going to waste time reading or viewing solid works diagrams. We quit doing the videos and online pdf guides and manuals because noone ever used them.

 

[StickerFlicker]

Thanks for the reply Jeff, very much appreciated. That's the path I was hoping to avoid needing to go down, if possible.

The machines I design are labeling machines and they all put labels on products, but each machine is physically slightly or drastically different depending on the product/label combinations physical characteristics. Just walking through a grocery store there are lots of product/label combinations which need physically different machines.

Which would mean if I wanted to incorporate this feature on other future moving forward I wouldn't be able to utilize the static images from parts of this machine to the next.

I was hoping there is some kind SolidWorks ActiveX widget or something that's available, like a hidden FactoryTalk Easter egg that only the elite know about.

 

[StickerFlicker]

I've done this on PVs with a video player and video guides for maintenance and trouble shooting. If you can get solid works into a viewable format on PV, should be feasible. But native solid works file formats aren't going to be supported on a PV.

With that said, from personal experience, it will be a waste of time. Operators are creatures of habit, and will learn to trouble shoot by trial and error and aren't going to waste time reading or viewing solid works diagrams. We quit doing the videos and online pdf guides and manuals because noone ever used them.

Oh I couldn't agree with you more on it being a waste of time! The marketing department head, who wouldn't be able to tell you which side of the label sticks to a product or which side doesn't, thinks it's the future of the company and will get more sales at trade shows from people who also never run machines but know buzz words like modular and synergy.

The video player guide is another good suggestion but I also don't want to have to create videos for each assembly and all the variations going forward.

I can totally understand why you stopped including them. Unfortunately I gotta do it at this time.

 

[Robobob]

Add a Text object to your screen. In the properties dialog box there is a Insert Variable radio button. Select string data type from drop down menu. Press ellipsis button and select your string tag from the tag browser.

 

[OkiePC]

Use Ignition Perspective and hire this guy to do your animations:

Search Assets In Ignition Perspective

This is how our clients search their assets in Ignition Perspective Projects.Divided search options into the four main categories:1. Plant And Factory Layout...

www.youtube.com

 

[StickerFlicker]

Use Ignition Perspective and hire this guy to do your animations:

Search Assets In Ignition Perspective

This is how our clients search their assets in Ignition Perspective Projects.Divided search options into the four main categories:1. Plant And Factory Layout...

www.youtube.com

Thanks for your reply, that video showed some pretty impressive stuff! Unfortunately, I don't have a option to hire a guy to do that and I wouldn't be able to hire a guy for every machine we need to add different modules animations...

 

[robertmee]

Use Ignition Perspective and hire this guy to do your animations:

Search Assets In Ignition Perspective

This is how our clients search their assets in Ignition Perspective Projects.Divided search options into the four main categories:1. Plant And Factory Layout...

www.youtube.com

That guy does some amazing ignition work. His oil and gas examples are very impressive.

However, again, that app you linked would be outdated in a year. My customers have asset lists that are 20 years outdated on paper. I do greenfields about every 3 years, and day 1 of startup is already different than the modeled 3D illustrations.

These apps are cool for management and sales to impress their colleagues, but they are very close to worthless from a production of widgets standpoint. And noone will keep them current.

 

[StickerFlicker]

That guy does some amazing ignition work. His oil and gas examples are very impressive.

However, again, that app you linked would be outdated in a year. My customers have asset lists that are 20 years outdated on paper. I do greenfields about every 3 years, and day 1 of startup is already different than the modeled 3D illustrations.

These apps are cool for management and sales to impress their colleagues, but they are very close to worthless from a production of widgets standpoint. And noone will keep them current.

Yea I agree about the outdated factor, unfortunately it is what I have been tasked with and the decision makers can't hear me yelling from all the way at the bottom on the totem pole.

I'm surprised that Rockwell doesn't have a standard widget for at least viewing and rotating a simple 3D model.