[sig.johnnson]

I've got a few questions about the `Spray_Add` method of `robolink.Robolink`. I know some of these could be easily answered by trial, but I haven't been able to create a working example yet.

1. Is it required to spray from an object of type `robolink.ITEM_TYPE_TOOL`, or is it possible to spray from any object, such as a reference frame? If not, can you recommend any workarounds for spraying without creating a tool in my workstation?
2. When the particles are projected after being created, which direction to they project? For example, do they follow any of the `robolink.PROJECTION_xxx` flags such as `robolink.PROJECTION_CLOSEST`? Is this configurable?

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I'm also having some trouble figuring out how to get the results I want from the parameter options.

Let's say I want to spray 10 drops of paint, each modeled as 1mm diameter spheres modeled using 18 facets, each 5mm apart. My best guess would be that I should use the following:
`params = 'PROJECT PARTICLE=SPHERE(1,18) STEP=10x1 RAND=0 RECTANGLE'`
I am not sure how to specify the spacing (5mm) of the particles and this command is putting down some particles in my workstation, but it's definitely not doing what I want. (It appears to be putting down exactly one particle, far from where my tool is.

[Albert]

The spray object should be linked to a tool and it uses the Z axis of the tool as the reference to project particles. Alternatively, you can use an object and it will use the Z axis of the reference of the object.

Also, particles follow a conical shape (I believe it is hard coded), instead, you can use multiple tools (then can be hidden). And each tool can have the TCP at a different location and have the Z axis pointing towards a different location (having a 1x1 step).

The projection is not configurable. We'll try to improve the Spray object and allow you to better provide all these commands.

[sig.johnnson]

Hi Albert, thanks for the information. Looks like it's possible to load empty STL's as objects, so that workaround is fairly painless.

Looking at it a little more, for my application, this example of drawing an SVG is a more appropriate solution, so I'll proceed in that direction instead of the spray gun.

[Albert]

Excellent! Thank you for your feedback.

You should also be able to use AddFile with an empty string to create an empty object as a generic container.

Example:

Code:

item = RDK.AddFile("")
item.setName("Empty object")