DASHBOARD OPERATION MANUAL. Machine Control, Inc.

Transcription

1 DASHBOARD OPERATION MANUAL Machine Control, Inc.

2 INTEGRATE YOUR DATA With highly accurate topographic data describing your job site, its easy to envision and design a multiphase system to address your needs. The individual parts of any complete system need to work together after installation, but often need to be designed separately to manage each component s separate parameters. To combine the capabilities of the AMW Machine Control software titles to their fullest, it s important to understand how the Dashboard interfaces with your data files. From the Dashboard, you will be able to set up new jobs, identify your geographic zone, choose a job setup type and more. The Dashboard will open the data file in the Working Screen of the selected program. When continuing to an existing job, just check the gauges and pick up right where you left off. 2

3 CONTENTS Dashboard Setup... 4 Setup Types... 5 Coordinate Regions... 6 Rod Length Setup... 7 Surface Setup... 8 Dashboard Icons... 9 GPS Status Check Job Setup User Preferences Job Management Job Utilities

4 DASHBOARD SETUP After opening the AMW Dashboard, you will see several drop down menus and buttons to assist you with the program setup. A B C D A. Select a program to open. The options list will display all of the AMW Machine Control programs you have purchased. B. Select an existing Job Name from the drop down list. Any settings affiliated with that job will be restored. To create a new job, select the Make New Job option. Type a name into the Enter a Job Name text field, using between four and sixteen characters. Only letters, numbers and the underscore are allowed. Touch the text entry box to activate the on-screen keyboard. C. From the Setup Type menu, select the option that best fits your job. Choose Use Previous Setup to restore any affiliated settings. D. The Surface Setup drop-down options are only applicable to projects using the Dirt program. 4

5 SETUP TYPES When setting up a new job, there are several coordinate system options. Typically, a new job will use a 0 Point option as there will not be pre-existing control points. Use Previous Setup Use this option when returning to a prior job and using a smart base station or the Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) Network. UTM Coordinates, 0 Point Create a job with no preset control points. The program will determine the correct zone using the worldwide coordinate system, or it can be selected from a list. UTM Coordinates, 1 Point Select to enter a job with an existing UTM control point. The program will determine the correct zone using the worldwide coordinate system, or it can be selected from a list. 2 Local Point Setup Select to enter a job with two or more existing control point coordinates. The job orientation is based on two control points, without relying on a coordinate system. State Plane, 0 Point Use this option when entering a job with no preset control points in the United States. Select the appropriate State Plane zone from the 124 geographic areas across the country. State Plane, 1 Point If you have preset control points, choose this option to work within the State Plane Coordinate system. Select the appropriate zone for your location, select the correct control points and read the job s control point. TM Grid, 0 Point Use this option in Australia when entering a job with no preset control points. TM Grid, 1 Point Use this option in Australia when entering a job with a control point. 5

6 COORDINATE REGIONS The Universal Transverse Mercator zones are part of a worldwide coordinate system that divides the earth into sections emanating from the poles, accounting for the curvature of the earth. The State Plane coordinate system identifies zones within each state, but does not account for the curvature of the earth. 6

7 ROD LENGTH SETUP The rod length, or antenna height, may change with each equipment combination you use. This height is the distance from a designated point on the antenna to the cutting edge of the blade. Select an entry saved in the list, or enter additional lengths as needed with the Add New icon. The rod length and description can be entered through a traditional keyboard or the on-screen key pad. 7

8 SURFACE SETUP When setting up a job using the Dirt software only, choose from the four following surface setup options: Normal Surface (FBG) Use this option with an imported design surface. The design files can be imported through the Job Management menu. Commit to Plane Use this option when grading to a certain slope or slopes, using forward and cross slopes without the use of a design. Enter a positive number to tip to the North and East, or a negative number to top to the South and West. The plane can be tipped between two control points. The tipped plane you will commit to can be set up as a Direction and Slope or Point-in-Plane. The first variation requires a slope value be entered for the North/South axis and the East/West axis, or two control points. The second variation requires a control point coordinate. Commit to Elevation Use this option when leveling to a certain elevation without the use of a design. Enter the required elevation, and remember that the Cut/Fill Offset will be applied. Commit to User s Slope Use this option when grading to a simple slope. 8

9 DASHBOARD ICONS At the bottom of the Dashboard screen, you will see the following nine icons: GPS Status Tap to set up the initial control points and coordinates. Press and hold to select an instrument reading method. Check Setup This option will determine the deviation between multiple control points. User Preferences This option allows changes to the Working Screen orientation, colors, splash screen and will display the remaining uses for an individual license. Job Management Makes changes to the control points, design surface, background image, file export and file conversion options. Utilities Edit the units of measure and security details. Help Shut Down Computer Exit Start This icon will take the user to the Working Screen, once the disclaimer has been accepted. 9

10 GPS STATUS Whether looking at the Dashboard or the Working Screen, the GPS Status icon will change color according to the connection quality. A green icon signifies a strong connection; red signifies a weak connection. Weaker connections and errors may be corrected with the following troubleshooting steps: SYMPTOM COM PORT IS ALREADY IN USE NO GPS DATA BAD DATA BAD POSITION TYPE X (#) SOLUTION The GPS unit is connected to a communications port that is being used by another program or not communicating properly. First, verify that the GPS is connected to the correct communications port. If correct, disconnect the GPS unit from the port, shut down the computer, restart the computer, restart Topo and finally reconnect the GPS. The GPS unit is not sending a signal or the computer is unable to receive the signal. Verify that the GPS is powered on, then verify the cables are connected to the communications port properly. The GPS unit is sending bad or incorrect data. First, verify that the GPS is connected to the proper communications port and configured correctly. Then verify that Topo is configured for the correct instrument, incoming baud rate and update rate. The GPS unit is not communicating with the base station. Verify that the base station is powered on and within manufacturer guidelines for distance. Verify the rover is configured correctly to read the base station. GPS IS IN AND OUT OF FIX Check the line-of-sight with the base for obstructions, and verify satellite visibility. Ensure that the GPS rover antenna is not damaged or loose. 10

11 CHECK JOB SETUP Follow this procedure to verify project control and provide the deviation between points. Checking all of the control points is recommended, but checking three is necessary to determine if one is bad. 1. Locate the job site control points. 2. Occupy the first point. 3. Select the appropriate control point coordinates Read the instrument. 5. Accept or re-read the instrument Occupy the next point. Whenever possible, check the point on the opposite corner of the site second. 7. Read the instrument, then accept or re-read the instrument at the second location. 8. Occupy the next point. Whenever possible, use a point that forms a triangle with equal length legs. 9. Repeat steps 4, 5, and 6. Check deviation between points. A tolerance of 0.02 feet horizontal and vertical is acceptable. If a control point is out of tolerance, repeat this procedure using other control points if available. The designer should be consulted if one or more control points are out of tolerance. 11

12 USER PREFERENCES Access the User Preferences screen to make changes to the appearance of the program inteface, Dashboard or Working Screen. Touch the More Options icon to view the remaining uses and the software version. 12

13 JOB MANAGEMENT The Job Management screen includes five tabs to update and export certain portions of a job file. On the Summary tab, you can either select an existing job or set up a new job from the Job Name drop-down menu. To create a new job, choose Make a New Job from the list. The selected job s description can be added or changed in the text box. Each entry or change will be timestamped automatically for inclusion in the list. 13

14 JOB MANAGEMENT The Control Points tab on the Job Management screen allows you to add, edit or delete control points. Double click a control point in the list to edit or delete it, or touch the Add New icon to create a new control point. Select an option from the drop-down menu to replace, append or import another point. 14

15 JOB MANAGEMENT The Design Surface tab manges which surface points and files will be used on a particular job. Double click a point in the list to edit or delete it, or touch the Add New icon to create a new surface point. Select an option from the top drop-down menu to replace, build or load a file. Select the number of surfaces to be used in the second drop-down menu. 15

16 JOB MANAGEMENT To view the current background image and make changes to how it is displayed, navigate to the Background Image tab. Check or uncheck the selection boxes to change the display options. The Other Options drop-down menu will replace or edit the current image with information from other data files or programs: 16

17 JOB MANAGEMENT The Export/Manage Data tab coordinates how files can be saved, shared and loaded in other programs. Check the filetypes needed and touch the Export icon. To change or remove a file, select it and touch the Edit or Delete icons. The program will convert a.dxf file to an.fbg file. 17

18 JOB MANAGEMENT From the Convert Files tab, a data file can change from the.svy format to an NEZ. 18

19 JOB UTILITIES The Utilities menu includes two sub-menus: Security and Units of Measure. The Security sub-menu contains the following options: Display Security Status This option will display the security information for ten seconds. Change Security Status This option will display the current site code. This code is necessary to activate a new software release or install a new program. Typically, the site code should be relayed four characters at a time. Avoid discrepancies by reading letters with the following phonetic alphabet: Alpha Bravo Charlie Delta Echo Foxtrot Delete Security Status This option will delete the current site code. Only perform this function if you are prepared to replace the site code. The Units of Measure sub-menu allows a user to select the desired measurement system: International or US Survey feet or meters. The difference between the two is small, but working in US Survey feet is recommended. Both will be calculated and displayed in tenths of a foot, and inches and eighths to decimals of a foot. INCH 0 1/8 1/4 3/8 1/2 5/8 3/4 7/