OpenAPC

OpenAPC is a free and multiplatform APC (Advanced Process Control) graphical software project that is both configurable and highly flexible. It covers a wide range of visualization, process control tasks and automation from industrial automation to home control.

Features at a glance

The application comes with an open plugin interface for adding new interfaces and controls, features easy handshake, co-processing and connection of different OpenAPC instances, as well as easy project creation via ControlRoom's visual editor.

In addition, the software provides different applications for debugging and editing OpenAPC instances, and a highly optimized tool for running a ControlRoom project, in order for the final project to be executed without any issue.

Complete support for user management, as well as user privileges and levels is also provided in the OpenAPC application, along with support for touch screen controlled HMIs (Human–machine interfaces) and flexible network-capability.

Various control applications can be created

With the ControlRoom editor, you will be able to create various control application that can perform various tasks, such as process control, visualisation, supervisory control, data processing, data acquisition, professional automation, home automation, programming and UI (User Interface) design.

The program’s graphical user interface is easy to use and intuitive, designed to integrate all the benefits that made OpenAPC so successful and popular. Comprehensive documentation and examples are provided on the project’s homepage (see link at the end of the review).

Supported on GNU/Linux and Microsoft Windows

OpenAPC is designed from the ground up to work on all GNU/Linux distributions, as well as on the Microsoft Windows, WindowsCE, Windows XPe and Mac OS X operating systems. The application is freeware, so no source is available for download at this time.

Officially supported distributions of Linux include Ubuntu, Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux, for which native installers are provided in the dedicated download section above for the 64-bit and 32-bit hardware architectures.

What is new in this release:

• BeamConstruct PRO: user and privilege management to restrict user-level dependent access to applications functions
• BeamConstruct PRO: pen parameter finder wizard to find best frequency/power combination
• BeamConstruct PRO: show scanhead information and visualise digital inand outputs
• BeamConstruct PRO: menu shortcuts can be edited freely
• BeamConstruct PRO: mark loop counter for single elements
• BeamConstruct PRO: input plug-in for reading data out of CSV database/table files
• BeamConstruct PRO: extended editing functions added for Triangle, Rectangle, Line and Polygon via hotkey
• ControlRoom PRO: LUA IO freely programmable plug-in
• ControlRoom PRO: Chart HMI plug-in
• ControlRoom PRO: managed layout for automatic arrangement of UI elements
• ControlRoom PRO: images can be embedded into project to avoid external references
• ControlRoom PRO: menu shortcuts can be edited freely
• CNConstruct/BeamConstruct: function added to insert an other project into an already loaded one
• CNConstruct/BeamConstruct: bug in stepper motor control via scanner card fixed
• CNConstruct/BeamConstruct: bugs in hatcher fixed
• CNConstruct/BeamConstruct: bugs in UNDO/REDO function fixed
• CNConstruct/BeamConstruct: bug in settings of visual grid size fixed
• CNConstruct/BeamConstruct: crash while exporting to CSV/HPGL fixed
• CNConstruct/BeamConstruct: ETH6608 plug-in supports mark start by external trigger now (requres hardware variant B or newer and possibly an update of ETH6608 firmware)
• CNConstruct: bug in CSV export format fixed
• BeamConstruct/BeamSDK: new user interface ID 10006 for user login toolbar button
• BeamSDK: new property tag BEAM_TAG_PRESCALE for text elements
• BeamSDK: new functions beam_get_pen_value(), beam_get_pen_name() and new pen-related tag BEAM_TAG_PEN_NAME; unused function beam_set_pen() removed
• BeamSDK: new tags BEAM_TAG_PEN_OFF_COLOUR, BEAM_TAG_PEN_JUMPSPEED, BEAM_TAG_PEN_MARKSPEED, BEAM_TAG_PEN_LASEROFFDELAY, BEAM_TAG_PEN_LASERONDELAY, BEAM_TAG_PEN_JUMPDELAY, BEAM_TAG_PEN_MARKDELAY, BEAM_TAG_PEN_POLYDELAY, BEAM_TAG_PEN_SPOTSIZE, BEAM_TAG_PEN_WOBBLEAMP, BEAM_TAG_PEN_WOBBLEFREQ, BEAM_TAG_PEN_PULSELENGTH, BEAM_TAG_PEN_FIRSTPULSE, BEAM_TAG_PEN_HALFPERIOD, BEAM_TAG_PEN_STANDBY_PULSELENGTH, BEAM_TAG_PEN_STANDBY_FREQ for pen functions
• BeamSDK: new init-parameters BEAM_TAG_INIT_MENUBAR, BEAM_TAG_INHIBIT_ELEMENT, BEAM_TAG_INIT_DEFAULTSETTINGS and BEAM_TAG_INIT_CUSTPARENT added
• BeamSDK: UI-flag BEAM_SHOWUI_TOOLBAR activated
• BeamSDK: BEAM_SHOWUI_STATUSBAR and BEAM_SHOWUI_LOCK_DRAWAREA added
• BeamSDK: new commands BEAM_TAG_CMD_SCANNERCTRL_CONFIG, BEAM_TAG_CMD_SET_ELEMENT_SELECTED, BEAM_TAG_CMD_GET_ELEMENT_SELECTED, BEAM_TAG_CMD_IS_ELEMENT_SELECTED, BEAM_TAG_CMD_SET_PEN, BEAM_TAG_CMD_GET_PEN, BEAM_TAG_CMD_SET_ROTX, BEAM_TAG_CMD_SET_ROTY, BEAM_TAG_CMD_SET_ROTZ and BEAM_TAG_CMD_ADD_UNDO_STEP added
• BeamSDK: constants *_ENTITY* renamed to *_ELEMENT*
• ControlRoom/CNConstruct/BeamConstruct: support for optional hardware dongle that replaces online-activation of software
• OpenSDK: struct config_info extended to handle image capture data
• OpenSDK: new structure type OAPC_BIN_SUBTYPE_STRUCT_OUTPUTRESP as response to submitted structure OAPC_BIN_SUBTYPE_STRUCT_OUTPUTCTRL

What is new in version 3.2-1:

• BeamConstruct: only parts of a project can be saved (optionally)
• BeamConstruct: option to disable image capture automatically during motion or marking processes
• BeamConstruct: freely definable outputs for signals "Ready For Marking" and "Marking Active"
• BeamConstruct: support of false colour vision images
• BeamConstruct: support for multi-coloured bitmap marking processes
• BeamConstruct: bug in IPG mode of USC-1/USC-2 fixed
• CNConstruct/BeamConstruct: import speed of ASCII-based file formats dramatically increased
• BeamConstruct/BeamSDK: new user interface ID 1010 for saving a project with options
• BeamSDK: SCARD_CMD_ defines introduced for standard scanner card numeric commands
• BeamSDK: new functions beam_create_pen() and beam_modify_pen() with related new tags BEAM_TAG_PEN_FREQUENCY, BEAM_TAG_PEN_POWER and BEAM_TAG_PEN_COLOUR; new function beam_set_pen() to set a pen to an element
• BeamSDK: new members mFieldSizeHeight, uFieldX, uFieldY and uFieldZ in struct config_scanner_controller
• OpenSDK: new constant OAPC_BIN_SUBTYPE_STRUCT_STARTOUTPUT
• OpenSDK: new error code OAPC_ERROR_LIBRARY_MISSING
• ControlRoom/BeamConstruct: new plug-in for printer driver based laser marking systems
• ControlRoom/BeamConstruct: bug in bitmap marking of Scanlab RTC cards fixed
• ControlRoom: bug fixed in handling/configuration of Toggle Button
• ControlRoom: Introducing a custom.property-file for translations in own HMI elements

What is new in version 3.1-1:

• BeamConstruct: mark dialogue extended by possibilities to control motion axes manually
• BeamConstruct: extended motion axis configuration possibilities (rename axis, enable homing on startup)
• BeamConstruct: camera calibration in vision system extended to perform spatial position correction too
• BeamConstruct: bug in enabling/disabling UI elements in motion primary plug-in fixed
• ControlRoom/BeamConstruct: support for IPG lasers added for all RTC cards and for PSC140P
• ControlRoom/BeamConstruct: bugs fixed for scannercard-based stepper motors
• ControlRoom: added command line options -b, -x and -y to OpenPlayer to specify window caption and position
• ControlRoom: new HMI elements "Free Line", "Frame" and "Ellipse"
• ControlRoom: HMI element "Line" renamed to "Rectangle"
• ControlRoom: new function to change Z-order of HMI elements
• ControlRoom/BeamSDK: new user interface IDs 3011 and 3012 for opening and closing BeamConstruct devices, 3013 for showing scanner card/head state dialogue, 2308 for starting/stopping video capture
• ControlRoom/SDK: new user interface flags OAPC_HMI_NO_UI_BG and OAPC_HMI_NO_UI_LAYOUT
• SDK: predefined binary type OAPC_BIN_TYPE_TEXT, subtype OAPC_BIN_SUBTYPE_TEXT_PLAIN implemented (param1 and param2 used)
• SDK: new structure subtypes OAPC_BIN_SUBTYPE_STRUCT_STOPOUTPUT and OAPC_BIN_SUBTYPE_STRUCT_BRAKEOUTPUT added
• SDK: new structure struct oapc_bin_scanheadinfo and subtype OAPC_BIN_SUBTYPE_STRUCT_SCANHEADINFO added; types are used for request and data-response
• SDK: new member rotationalAxes added to struct config_motion_controller
• SDK: using param3 as loop counter in output-control-structures, OAPC_BIN_SUBTYPE_STRUCT_OUTPUTCTRL sent with response how many param3 pulses have been used

What is new in version 3.0-1:

• BeamSDK: software development kit to use BeamConstruct API with example source codes, BeamConstruX COM control and complete sources of scanner controller plug-in (hardware-independent base implementation)
• BeamConstruct: auto-scaling images in Fiducial and Camera Calibration panels
• BeamConstruct: new Vision function for dropping existing camera calibration
• BeamConstruct: new tool "CorrCorrect" added to create, edit and optimise BCORR HD correction files
• BeamConstruct/SDK: plug-in extended to (optionally) issue status messages during initialisation and to cancel process in case of errors
• CNConstruct/BeamConstruct: crash in format wizard dialogue of serial number input element fixed
• ControlRoom/BeamConstruct: new UI command ID 2307 for dropping a camera calibration
• ControlRoom/BeamConstruct: ETH6608 plug-in now also supports BCORR HD and ScanLab CT5 correction files, bug fixed in loading of GCD correction format
• ControlRoom/BeamConstruct: R,G and B colour correction in Image Capture plug-in now also applies to greyscale images; options added to mirror the image in x/y direction
• ControlRoom: Serial Interface plug-in extended by possibility to configure the line termination character and to use a XOR-checksummed transmission mode
• ControlRoom: Flow Delay extended by numeric input to set delay values dynamically
• SDK: new error code OAPC_ERROR_LICENSE
• SDK: new plug-in capability / operation mode OAPC_ACCEPTS_SEND_DATA_MODE / OAPC_INSTANCE_SEND_DATA

What is new in version 2.7-1:

• BeamConstruct: missing multihead support enabled for primary elements
• BeamConstruct: Z-Shifter primary element and Z-Shifter plug-in HW configuration added
• BeamConstruct: Vision system with teaching of fiducials, recognition and position correction added
• CNConstruct/BeamConstruct: bug in importing of DXF geometries fixed
• CNConstruct/BeamConstruct: position of element tree can be configured (separate panel or part of left hand sided tab-panes)
• ControlRoom/BeamConstruct: geometry calculation bug corrected in RTC5 plug-in
• ControlRoom/BeamConstruct: new plug-ins added to access Coherent Avia lasers and Sill focus shifters via TCP/IP
• ControlRoom: BeamConstruct2Control and CNConstruct2Control moved to category "Conversion"
• luaPLC: behaviour of callback-function oapc_ispace_recv_callback() changed, it can be called only when a call to oapc_thread_sleep() is active

What is new in version 2.6-1:

• BeamConstruct/CNConstruct: Undo/Redo-Function added
• BeamConstruct: "Invert"-button of scanner bitmap pane replaced by checkbox
• BeamConstruct: bug in pilot preview with bitmap images fixed
• BeamConstruct: vector redrawing bug fixed
• ControlRoom Editor: Sort HMI elements out of selection box
• ControlRoom Editor: Undo/Redo-Function added
• ControlRoom Editor: bug in compiling of projects fixed
• ControlRoom Editor: bug in "snap to grid" drawing option fixed
• ControlRoom: new flow plug-in category "Laser"
• ControlRoom: Weecoboard-LCD plug-in added
• ControlRoom: Image Button now supports predefined images in applications/systems general style
• ControlRoom/BeamConstruct: bitmap marking bugs fixed in all scanner controller cards
• ControlRoom/BeamConstruct: mark-busy bug fixed for RTC cards
• ControlRoom/BeamConstruct: useless "native resolution" option in image capture plug-in removed
• ControlRoom/BeamConstruct: program file parameter removed from RTCscanalone, crash fixed
• ControlRoom/BeamConstruct: initialisation bug fixed for RTC5
• ControlRoom/BeamConstruct: support for generic, serial interface driven laser controllers added
• ControlRoom/BeamConstruct: support for 3rdEye PSCPx, Sintec Optronics ETH6608 and Raylase SP-ICE2 scanner controller cards
• ControlRoom/BeamConstruct: options and parameters in image capture plug-in changed
• SDK: new category flag OAPC_FLOWCAT_LASER
• SDK: new structure subtypes OAPC_BIN_SUBTYPE_STRUCT_MARKREADY, OAPC_BIN_SUBTYPE_STRUCT_ENDMARKREADY, OAPC_BIN_SUBTYPE_STRUCT_JOBSTART and OAPC_BIN_SUBTYPE_STRUCT_JOBEND
• SDK: new image subtype OAPC_BIN_SUBTYPE_IMAGE_BW1
• SDK: new function oapc_path_split() in liboapcwx
• SDK: new function oapc_util_check_maskbit() in liboapc
• SDK: oapc_bin_struct_ioctrl extended by 16 bit analogue field

What is new in version 2.5-1:

• SDK: new functions oapc_thread_signal_*() in liboapc for signaling/waiting for signals
• SDK: removed superfluid XML-tag
• SDK: new unicode conversion functions in liboapcwx
• SDK: new function oapc_util_atof_dot() in liboapc
• SDK: new structure type OAPC_BIN_SUBTYPE_STRUCT_POS_CORR and new structure oapc_bin_struct_pos_corr
• SDK: oapc_bin_struct_ioctrl extended by 32 bit digital out
• SDK: new capability flags OAPC_ACCEPTS_WRITE_DATA_MODE and instance mode define OAPC_INSTANCE_WRITE_DATA for writing stand alone data
• SDK: new predefined configuration constant oapc_write_data_path
• liboapcwx: new classes oapcFloatCtrl and oapcTextCtrl added
• ControlRoom: Image Capture and Weecoboard-4M plug-ins added
• ControlRoom: sporadic memory leak with binary data fixed
• ControlRoom: new plug-ins "Position Correction to Number"
• ControlRoom: new HMI plug-in "Position Correction"
• CNConstruct/BeamConstruct: customisation extended, toolbar and listimages can be replaced by own ones
• CNConstruct/BeamConstruct/ControlRoom: bug in license checker code fixed
• BeamConstruct/ControlRoom: "SCAPS(R) SCI" renamed to "SCAPS(R) USC-1/2"
• BeamConstruct: bug fixed in controlling output pin of pilot laser and usage of bit 0
• BeamConstruct: pen's frequency, mark speed and jump speed can be set to have logarithmic behaviour
• BeamConstruct: minimum and maximum values for frequency, jump speed and mark speed can be configured
• BeamConstruct: pen frequency now set to correct values also when changed with slider
• BeamConstruct: bug fixed for pulsed laser output and delay
• BeamConstruct: handling of delays corrected in scanner controller plug-ins

What is new in version 2.3-1:

• BeamConstruct: sporadic loss of configured 2D drawing mode corrected
• BeamConstruct: split view in 3D editing mode to view all three sides plus 3D representation
• simultaneously
• BeamConstruct: bug fixed in output of scanner bitmap data
• BeamConstruct: lock fixed when pressing Cancel-button in mark dialogue during running operation
• ControlRoom/BeamConstruct: new plug in to control Ether Dream scanner controller card
• ControlRoom/BeamConstruct: new plug in to control SCANLAB RTC5 scanner controller card
• ControlRoom: Symbol Button HMI plug-in extended by border size parameter
• ControlRoom: new HMI plug-in "Flow Indicator" to visualise direction and speed of moved materials
• ControlRoom: MODBUS Master plug-ins extended by special mode "Read IEEE754 Holding Register" to read 32 Bit float values out of two concatenated holding registers
• ControlRoom: error handling problem fixed in MODBUS RTU Adressable Master
• ControlRoom: deadlock between UI elements fixed
• liboapc: bug fixed in Linux variant of thread functions
• liboapc: bug fixed in ring buffer functions

What is new in version 2.2-1:

• ControlRoom/BeamConstruct/CNConstruct: bug fixed in handling of (wrong) license key
• BeamConstruct/CNConstruct: crash fixed that happened some times when adding post processing element to existing geometries
• BeamConstruct/SDK: missing function oapc_get_config_info_data() and structures config_info/config_motion_controller added to oapc_libio.h for extra motion definitions required for BeamConstruct
• BeamConstruct: bug fixed for ungrouped elements
• BeamConstruct: drawing bug fixed in 3D views
• BeamConstruct: problems in handling/editing of slice group sub-elements fixed
• BeamConstruct: crash fixed when removing global hatch pattern from 3D models
• BeamConstruct: crash fixed when adding hatch patterns to sliced 3D models
• ControlRoom/BeamConstruct: working area calculation bug corrected in scanner controller plug-ins
• ControlRoom: initialisation problem fixed in AS-i plug-in
• ControlRoom: code-cleanup in text to speech converter plug-in
• ControlRoom: missing initialisation added in Pipes-plug-in