Part Feeder Object

KEY POINTS

Part feeding simulation is available only with Epson RC+ Standard Edition or higher. Refer to the following video manual for an overview and detailed instructions.

(opens new window)

Sample connections and projects are provided for part feeding simulation. It is also used in the video manual mentioned above.

From the Epson RC+ 8.0 menu, select [Project]-[Open Project], then select [Projects]-[SimulatorDemos]-[PF_Sample_GX8_C], and then select [RC800 Series]–[PF Sample GX8-C] from the Epson RC+ 8.0 toolbar-[Connection:] list box. You can actually check the operations and behaviors described in the video manual.

When the parts feeder setting is enabled in [Setup]-[System Configuration]-[Controller]-[Part Feeder], the part feeder object is automatically displayed in the layout tree and 3D display.
This operation is available only with Epson RC+ Standard Edition or higher.

Feeder Object

This object represents the part feeder unit. Most of the attributes are the same as for Layout objects, but some attributes are only valid for part feeder objects.

Property Value
Name Displays the feeder name. You can specify any name.
Feeder Number Displays the feeder number.
This is the feeder number set in [Setup]-[System Configuration]-[Controller]-[Part Feeder]. It cannot be changed from the property grid.
Model Displays the feeder model name.
This is the feeder model name set in [Setup]-[System Configuration]-[Controller]-[Part Feeder].
For IF-380 and IF-530, a model can be selected according to the height of the frame surrounding the platform.
For IF-A1520 and IF-A2330, when Purge gate installed is enabled, a model can be selected according to the purge gate mounting position (left or right).
The 3D display changes according to the selected model.
Type Setting fixed to "Layout". Cannot change the setting.
Offset Position You can show/set the position of an object as an offset from its parent object. If no parent object exists, it is shown/set the same as the Position property.
Offset Rotation You can show/set the placement angle of an object as an offset from its parent object. If the parent object does not exist, it will display/set the same as the Rotation property.
Position Specifies the center point in simulator World coordinates.
Rotation Specify the placement angle.
Show Pick Area Specifies the part number for which the pick area is displayed.
Vibration Scale Sets the vibration ratio in the simulation.
The vibration intensity (magnitude of the external force applied to parts) changes in proportion to this value. Use this setting to further adjust the vibration after calibrating part feeding. Normally, this does not need to be changed.
SupplyType Displays/Sets the parts supply method.
  • Hopper: Supplies parts randomly based on the parts supply settings in [Tools]-[Part Feeding].
  • FromFile: Supplies parts from a saved parts supply file.
Filename When the SupplyType property is set to FromFile, specifies the file (parts supply file) in which the parts supply information is recorded.
Clicking the button displays the file open dialog. Specifies a parts supply file (extension: ".pfs").

Parts are supplied from this part supply file when part supply is required.
Alternatively, parts can be supplied at any time by specifying the SimSet command as shown below.

SimSet Feeder_1.SupplyType, 1
SimSet Feeder_1.Filnname, CurDir$ + "Feeder_1.pfs"
PF_OutoutOnOff 1, On, 1, 5000
Visible
  • Display: True (Default)
  • Not display: False
Show Label
  • Displays the label: True
  • Not display the label: False (Default)
Show Origin
  • Show center point: True
  • Hide center point: False (Default)

For properties such as "Collision", "Collision Margin", or "Transparent", refer to the layout objects properties.

Hopper object

This object represents the hopper. When [Hopper installed] is enabled in [Setup]-[System Configuration]-[Controller]-[Part Feeder], it is automatically added as a child object of the feeder object. It cannot be used as a standalone object or as a child object of another object. Most of the attributes are the same as for Layout objects, but some attributes are only valid for hopper objects.

Property Value
Name Displays the hopper name. You can specify any name.
Feeder Number Displays the number of the feeder that is the parent object. It cannot be changed from the property grid.
Hopper Number Displays the hopper number. Cannot change the setting.
Model Displays the hopper model name.
You can also select a model according to the hopper type selected in [Setup]-[System Configuration]-[Controller]-[Part Feeder]-[Hopper installed].
The 3D display changes according to the selected model.
Mount Position Sets the hopper mounting position.
Specifies the direction of the hopper supply port with respect to the origin coordinate system of the feeder unit. The hopper display in the 3D display changes according to the specified direction.
  • +X: +X-axis direction (Default)
  • −X: −X-axis direction
  • +Y: +Y-axis direction
  • −Y: −Y-axis direction
Type Setting fixed to "Layout". Cannot change the setting.
Offset Position You can show/set the position of an object as an offset from the feeder unit, which is the parent object.
Offset Rotation You can show/set the installation angle of an object as an offset from the feeder unit, which is the parent object.
Position Specifies the center point in simulator World coordinates.
Rotation Specify the placement angle.
Visible
  • Display: True (Default)
  • Not display: False
Show Label
  • Displays the label: True
  • Not display the label: False (Default)
Show Origin
  • Show center point: True
  • Hide center point: False (Default)

For properties such as "Collision", "Collision Margin", or "Transparent", refer to the layout objects properties.

Feeder Control Panel

Select and right-click a feeder object or hopper object in the layout tree or 3D display to display the following context menu.

When you select "Feeder Control Panel", the following dialog box appears.

KEY POINTS

This function can be used to simulate feeder operation.
This simulation is intended to check the supply or placement state of parts on the feeder, and it reproduces the positions and orientations of parts in a simulated manner. This is a simulation based on a simplified model and does not perform strict physical simulation including feeder vibration, collision, or friction. Therefore, the behavior of the actual device is not completely reproduced. Use this function for preliminary verification purposes such as layout study and general operation checking.
Also, when using CAD data as a part in this function, the shape for simulation is automatically generated based on each element of the CAD data. If the CAD data consists of a single element, the generated shape may differ significantly from the actual part shape, resulting in an inaccurate representation of the part’s pose and contact state.
In particular, the differences between the generated shape and the actual shape may be significant with the following types of parts or CAD data:

  • Parts with large recesses
  • Parts with large protrusions and indentations, such as L-shaped or U-shaped parts
  • CAD data created by treating multiple part shapes or complex shapes as a single element

In this case, dividing the CAD data into multiple elements can make shapes for simulation closer to the actual part shape, allowing for a more realistic reproduction of the part’s pose and contact state. On the other hand, increasing the number of elements increases the number of shapes to be handled during simulation, which may increase the processing time.

Item Description
Name Displays the name of the feeder object for which the operation is set.

Supply

Flip

Centering

Shift

Specifies the feeder operation.
  • Supply: Supplies parts onto the platform. Parts can also be removed from the platform.
  • Flip: Executes a flip operation. You can specify the ratio of parts to be flipped.
  • Centering: Executes a centering operation. You can specify the long axis or short axis direction as the part movement direction.
  • Shift: Executes a shift operation. You can specify one of eight directions as the part movement direction.
Save current layout The part placement state after executing the feeder operation can be saved as a part placement file.
Supply from hoppers Supplies the number of parts set in [Number of parts supplied] from the hopper with the specified number. Clicking the [Supply Setting] button allows you to specify the object used as the part.
For details on [Supply Setting], see "Supply Setting" described later.
Supply from a file Uses a part placement file for parts supply. Clicking the button displays the file open dialog. Specifies a part placement file.
Supply Supplies parts onto the feeder platform.
Clear Removes parts from the feeder platform.

Supply Setting

As with the Feeder Control Panel, select and right-click a feeder object or hopper object in the layout tree or 3D display to display the following context menu.

Selecting [Supply Setting] from the context menu or clicking the [Supply Setting] button on the Feeder Control Panel displays the following dialog box.

Item Description
Name Displays the name of the feeder object for which part supply is configured.
Max. Quantity Sets the maximum number of parts that can be supplied to the feeder at one time.
This is also the maximum number of parts that the feeder can hold. Parts cannot be supplied or held beyond the number set here.
Supply Speed Specifies the supply speed (parts/sec) for Hopper 1 and Hopper 2.
Object Name Specifies the object to use as a part.
You can select layout objects that are already placed in the 3D display. Up to four types of parts can be specified per hopper.
Supply Rate Specifies the supply rate for parts.
The sum of the supply rates for the four types of parts must be 100%.

← 3D Display →

© Seiko Epson Corporation 2026