Frequently Asked Questions
Find the answer to your question about our Pally software and OPC UA solution
General
A: By automating the palletizing task there will be less tiring work for your employees. You also free up an employee to do other, more valuable tasks for your business. A palletizing robot will do a repetitive task that it has become harder to hire people to do.
Universal Robots deliver cobots which means that they can work side by side humans. It is safe and requires little extra space in your facility!
A: Pally is our easy-to-use palletizing software for UR-robots.
You create your desired pallet layout in our web-based Pally Pallet Builder. The unique feature for Pally is that you can make as many patterns as you like for free!
Our software is easy and flexible, and our intention is that anyone shall be able to use Pally with very little training. Once you have created your pattern, Pally sends instruction to the UR robot on how it should place the boxes on the pallet.
A:
– Easy to use – with minimal training our goal is that anyone should be able to operate a UR robot with our software Pally.
– Affordable – most customers have a positive ROI after the first year of use!
– Reliable – our palletizing solution requires minimal maintenance
– Quick installation – most projects are up and running after just one day!
– Precision – place boxes down to the millimetre!
– Less tear on the robot – Pally gives the robot smoother movements which over time could increase the lifespan of the robot.
– Little down time in the production line when transitioning from manual palletizing to using a UR cobot w/ Pally.
A: For pricing, we would love to get in touch with you to discuss your requirements as price might vary depending on needs. As a rule of thumb, most businesses have a positive return after the first year of use.
A: We are partners with distributors and integrators in large parts of the world who are ready to help with the installation of your palletizing solution. Even if your company is based in an area where we don’t yet have any partners, we will most likely be able to provide you with a solution anyway. Get in touch with us today, and we’ll find a solution for you and your company!
A: Yes! If you contact us we will get in touch with you shortly to discuss what a good solution is for you and your business. From there, we will get you connected with one of our local partners who will provide you with a turn-key solution.
A: You buy a Pally license by leaving your contact details here and then we’ll get back to you as soon as possible with all the details.
A: Nothing! You can create as many patterns as you want, and it is 100% free! We have customers running 200+ patterns on each of their robots, so the sky’s the limit here. Try our Pally Pallet Builder and see how your pallet will look with your specified pattern!
A: We perform a feasibility test of your project to make sure your desired pattern is working properly with Pally and the robot. All you have to do is to leave your package data and pallet requirements in our Pally Pallet Builder and we’ll get in touch with you as soon as possible.
A: No, after creating a couple of patterns it is easy peasy! Most people only need half a day of training before they can fully operate the UR robot with the Pally software. One of our Pally users has 200+ different patterns that they easily switch between each week. Try our Pally Pallet Builder yourself here!
A: We can in a few days analyze your product and deliver a proof of concept. With a simulation we can visualize the palletizing process and give recommendations on the hardware setup. This way, you’ll get to see that it is working before placing your order for a palletizing solution!
A: There are several factors that have an impact on the delivery and installation time, but once we place an order for a palletizing solution with a reseller, they can usually deliver and install the set-up within a month or two.
The technical stuff
A: Our palletizing solution involves a cobot – a collaborative robot – that is working side by side humans. This means that an integrator will be able to install the robot while the production is running. As soon as this is done, the robot is ready to use! By installing a cobot, the downtime in production is reduced to a minimum. We have partners who install and test a robot running Pally before lunch!
A: The beauty of using cobots – collaborative robots – is that they are designed to work side by side humans, and therefore it does not require a lot of floor spacing or cages. This is especially useful for small and medium manufacturers with limited extra space available. The smallest footprint that has been installed with Pally is 0,16 m2 + the space used by the pallets.
A: Universal Robots have a promise of 35 000 hours of use for their robots. This equals to around 4 years if the robot is running 24/7!
By using Pally, the robot gets smoother movements that have less tear on the robot. So by choosing our software Pally, your robot could be operational for even longer than UR’s promise of 35 000 hours.
A: Within the collaborative settings, Pally can do approx. 7 cycles/min. If the project allows for multi grip it can palletize 14 boxes/min with double grip, 21 boxes/min with triple grip, and so on.
A: Pally can lift as heavy as the robot can. Keep in mind that the weight of the gripper is part of the total sum of kgs the robot can lift. Most grippers weigh around 1kg. If you have a UR16, Pally can lift 15 kgs with the 1 kg gripper, if you have a UR10, Pally can lift 9 kgs with the 1 kg gripper, and so on.
A: Pally is tailor-fit for cobots from Universal Robots. You can use the hardware of your choice as long as it’s compatible with Universal Robots. Our distributors and integrators are ready to give you advice on what will be the best hardware set-up for you.
A: Most businesses use Pally for cardboard boxes, but there are really no limits to what Pally can palletize as long as you choose the right gripper for the job.
A: Yes, it is possible to move your palletizer around on your production site to palletize from various conveyor belts. Our software Pally is designed to handle the moving procedures.
A: Yes, user-friendliness is very important to us. That’s why we have developed the Pally Operator Panel. Anyone with minimal training should be able to run the palletizing solution.
A: Yes, you can connect Pally to the Manufacturing execution system in your facility via our OPC UA solution.
A: Yes, we have made it possible for you to connect to Pally remotely.
FAQ for OPC-UA UR-Cap
Yes, you do.
There are several ways to get a license.
The direct way is to purchase a OPC UA license. Here you will sign-up for a license and we will help you through the process of installing your license. You pay a one-time-fee by invoice after receiving the license.
You can also try the OPC UA URCap for 30-days before deciding to buy. Sign-up for our 30-day FREE trial license here.
If you are a UR Distributor, UR System Integrator or Educational Institute we offer a special rate. If you qualify these criterias you can apply for a special rate.
You can sign up for a 30-day free trail license by following the link. So you can test the URCap already today.
No, a permanent license is always bound to a specific robot with its serial number.
The OPC UA URCap is developed using functionality available in the following URCap API version 1.5.
– CB3.1: available in Universal Robots software v.3.8 or greater,
– E-series: available in Universal Robots software v.5.2 or greater.
Yes. We support message security, security policies and user authentication.
It can be both, client and server functions can be used simultaneously.
The functions of the OPC UA URCap can be accessed in 3 different ways:
– Program nodes
– Script functions
– Low-level API (the OPC UA daemon)
Currently supported variable types are bool, string, integer and double.
Yes, you can use your own created ini files and import them into the OPC URCap.
No, the functions provided by this URCap are application-level meaning that the OPC UA data exchange must be controlled by the main robot program.
The OPC UA URCap is a software module that extends the functionality of the Universal Robots programming interface with basic data exchange via the industry standard OPC UA protocol.
To use the OPC UA URCap, you will need to obtain a valid licence file for the robot in question.
The license can be temporary or permanent. A temporary license (Our 30-day free trial license) can be installed on any robot for evaluation purposes. A permanent license is always bound to a specific robot with its serial number.
Permanent licenses require a unique license request that is generated on the robot. Perform the following steps to get a valid license request on a USB disk:
– Insert a USB drive into the robot
– Click the “Copy license request to USB” button in the OPC UA URCap
– Disconnect the USB drive
Send the request file to license@rocketfarm.no. Rocketfarm will return a valid license file for this specific robot.
Download our “How to request your OPC UA License”-pdf here
After receiving a license file from Rocketfarm, perform the following steps to install your OPC UA URCap License:
– Copy the license file to the root folder on a USB drive
– Connect the USB drive to the robot
– Click the “Copy license from USB” button, in the OPC UA URCap
– Disconnect the USB drive
The OPC UA “Enable daemon” button should now be available to activate and use the URCap.
Download our “How to request and install OPC UA License” here
By default there are no standard robot status data available. However, it is possible to initialize the OPC UA Server from an external INI-file, which makes it more or less independent of the robot programming interface.
The main purpose of our URCap is to provide application-level data exchange functions to the robot program, so the short answer is yes. However, the OPC UA Server is running in the background, even if the robot program is stopped therefore it is possible to write an independent background process that update OPC UA variables independent of the robot program.
No, maybe the next version.