SmartCAM Advanced Fabrication

Transcription

1 SmartCAM Advanced Fabrication June 1996 Version 9.0 for Microsoft Windows NTS Release Notes These release notes provide information about new product features and known limitations that are specific to this version of SmartCAM Advanced Fabrication. They also provide information not included in other documents or in online Help. What s New All SmartCAM products released in second quarter, 1996 have a version number of 9.0. Below are highlights of the enhancements in SmartCAM Advanced Fabrication version 9.0. Refer to online Help for detailed information about these and other features. Job Operation Planner Job operations setup information is now integrated into the process model. Tool and process information is linked in process steps that you use to create tool path. Job information such as measurement units, part description, machine information, and material information is also stored with the job. The Job Operation Planner provides a simple, fast way to enter process step parameters. A tool can be used in multiple process steps, with different speeds and feeds for each step. In addition, the Planner provides the following new capabilities: Improved file management Tool library Material library Speed and feed calculator Macros for job operations setup functions See Job Operation Planner on page 2. Reports Generator Reports enables you to print shop travel documents, setup sheets, and tool crib requests. For information about Reports, refer to online Help or the online reference manual. Online Manuals Reference, customization, and code generation manuals are now online, as well as the manuals for Edit Plus, Communicate, and CAM Connections. See Online Manuals on page 4. Read-Out for Steps and Tools When you are setting Insert properties, the Read-out Line displays the tool and step description for each step as you move the cursor in the list view. Double-Click for Field Selection The method for selecting input fields has been changed to make SmartCAM more consistent with other Windows-based applications. To select an input field in a control panel or dialog box, click the field label or double-click in the input field. When the content of a field is selected, any entry you make from the keyboard will replace the current field value. To edit the existing value of a field, click the desired edit location. New CAM Connection Refer to the SmartCAM CAM Connection version 9.0 release notes for information about this new data translator. Installation Notes To install SmartCAM Advanced Fabrication, follow the instructions in the Installation Guide for All SmartCAM Products. It is strongly recommended that you install SmartCAM in the default configuration. Do not install SmartCAM version 9.0 products in the same directory as existing SmartCAM products. Installing on Windows NT or Windows 95 The SmartCAM installation routine requires that a file config.sys be present in the root directory of the boot drive of your computer. Since Windows NT and Windows 95 do not create this file automatically, create a file named config.sys before attempting to install SmartCAM Advanced Fabrication. Setting Measurement Units SmartCAM uses the Units setting in the Job Information dialog box to set the default measurement units to inch or metric. When you open an existing process model file or load a job file, the measurement Contents What s New / 1 Installation Notes / 1 Job Operation Planner / 2 Converting Existing Files / 4 Online Manuals / 4 Known Limitations / 5 Code Generation / 6 Address for Technical Support / Willow Creek Circle Eugene, Oregon (541) FAX (541) Toll Free

2 defaults are set to match the setting in the file. When you use File New to start a new process model, the measurement defaults are set to inch until you change the units setting in the Job Information dialog box. Changing the measurement units in an existing process model changes the defaults but does not convert existing steps or geometry in the file. Doing so may cause problems. For more information about setting the measurement units, refer to online Help or the online reference manual. Changing the Default Units For New Files If you work primarily in metric units, you can change the default units for all new files. To change the default units: 1. Use a text editor to open the file fjpage.def in the subdirectory \sm9\fab\josdef\. 2. Change the value of the Units setting in the header section of the file. Set the value to 0 for inch defaults or 1 for metric defaults. Do not change any other settings in this file. 3. Save your changes and close the file. Using CTG Files SmartCAM uses custom tool graphics (CTG) files with an.sh3 extension to provide tool graphics for tool path simulations. CTG files for some of the more common tools are included with your SmartCAM software. Inch CTG files are located in the sm9\fab\fctg subdirectory and metric CTG files are located in the sm9\fab\fctg_m subdirectory. All CTG files for a job must be in the same subdirectory. If you work with both inch and metric files, always verify that the path to the CTG files is correct when you change jobs. 1. Select File Planner to open the Job Operation Planner. 2. Double-click any step in the Process Step List to open the Edit Process Step dialog box. 3. Check the path in the CTG File input field on the Tool tab. If the path is not correct for the measurement units for the job, enter the correct path. 4. Select Accept to save your changes and close the dialog box. Refer to the Custom Tool Graphics section of the online reference manual for information about CTG files. Job Operation Planner The Job Operation Planner enables you to define a series of process steps that are comprised of tool and operation parameters. Process steps take the place of tools when you insert tool path. Use the Planner to build the job operations setup before you begin a new job, or build it as you build the process model. Opening the Planner To access the Job Operation Planner, select File Planner from the SmartCAM Menu or select the Planner icon from the icon bar. In addition, the Insert panel contains buttons that directly access the appropriate dialog boxes to add or edit process steps. Select Add to open the Add Step dialog box or Edit to open the Edit Process Step dialog box. Changes From Previous Versions If you have used previous versions of SmartCAM Advanced Fabrication, you will see changes in the following functions: Easy Assignment of Machine Files The Code and Show Path control panels now contain a machine status Read-out Line that indicates the name of the current primary machine file. A Choose button opens the Job Info Machine tab, enabling you to specify the code generation files. Saving Job Operations Setup Information When you save the process model file, a.jof file containing all job operations setup data is also saved. The.jof file is assigned the same name and saved in the same directory as the process model file. Planner Help The Planner subsystem has a complete Help system with overviews, input field descriptions, and how to topics for every dialog box and tab. Refer to online Help or the online reference manual for complete information about how to use the Planner. Improved File Management When you open SmartCAM, the system is initiated with an empty process model and job operations file in memory. You can SmartCAM Advanced Fabrication 2 Version 9.0 for Windows

3 Use the Filter function in the Choose Tool dialog to limit the list of tools. begin adding geometry on a layer, use the Planner to build the job operations setup for a new job, load an existing job file and use it to build a new job, or open an existing process model. When you save a process model, SmartCAM saves the model file with a.pm4 extension and the job file with a.jof extension. The files are assigned the same filename and are saved in the same directory. Note If you add elements to a new file that does not have valid steps, the geometry is added on a layer. You must add valid steps and assign the geometry to the steps before you can create tool path. Tool Library You can use the Tool List in the Planner to build a tool library. Enter the parameters for all the tools that you use or a set of tools for a specific type of job. Use File Save Job File to save the job file as a tool library. Creating a Sample Tool Library The sample job operations setup file, \sm9\fab\fdata\computer.jof contains many commonly used punch tools. Use this file to create a sample tool library. 1. Use File Load Job File to open the file. 2. Set the Insert property to On Layer. 3. Open the Job Operation Planner and use the Remove All Steps function. This leaves only the tools in the file. (For information about using the Planner functions, refer to online Help or the online reference manual.) 4. Save the file as toollib.jof. To use the tool library, open the file using File Load Job File, and then use the Planner to add process steps. Use the Choose Tool dialog box to select tools from the library. Automatically Loading the Tool Library You can create a macro to automatically load the tool library file when you open SmartCAM. 1. Use File New to initiate a new process model. 2. Select Macro Record and name the macro ldtools.mcl. 3. Use File Load Job File to load toollib.jof. 4. Select Macro Stop to end the recording of the macro. 5. Close SmartCAM, and then use the Windows File Properties command to add a call to the macro at the end of the command line for SmartCAM Advanced Fabrication. For example: -mdrive:\path\ldtools.mcl In this example -m is a command to run a macro, drive:\path represents the drive letter and path where the macro is stored, and ldtools.mcl is the name of the macro. Reusing Data The Duplicate buttons for the Process Step List, Tool List, and the Choose Tool dialog box enable you to use the parameters of an existing step or tool when you add a new step or tool to the job operation setup. Material Library You can use a material library file to provide process parameters for the Planner. Instructions for building a material library are contained in the SmartCAM Material Library release notes. Speed and Feed Calculator If you use a material library, the Planner will automatically calculate process parameters such as feeds and speeds, based on the available material information. Use the Choose Material dialog box to specify the material for the job, and then use the Calculate button on the Operation tab in the Edit Process Step dialog box to calculate process parameters. When you use a material library, make sure that the library data file includes a value for material thickness that matches the value that you enter in the Material Thickness field on the Job Information Material tab. If the values do not match exactly, The Feed and Speed calculator may not be able to calculate correctly and will issue an error message. Note The sample material library files provided are examples only. The speed and feed calculations that they produce are not valid. Macro Variables You can create and use macros with most job operations setup functions. Version 9.0 for Windows 3 SmartCAM Advanced Fabrication

4 Converting Existing Files Existing model files are automatically converted to the new file format when you open them in SmartCAM Advanced Fabrication version 9.0. When SmartCAM converts the file, it also uses the information in the referenced job plan (.jsf) file to create a job operations setup file (.jof) for the model. When you save the process model, both files are saved in the same directory with the same file name. In most cases, you can edit and use the files without further consideration. However, the following circumstances may require special attention. Separate.jsf Path SmartCAM version 9.0 stores the process model (.pm4) and job operations setup (.jof) files in the same directory. If you previously saved the job plan files in different directories than the model file (.sh3), SmartCAM will not find the.jsf file when you load an existing process model. Use File Load Job File to locate and open the.jsf file. When you save the process model, the files are saved together. To avoid repeating this task for each process model, use the Windows File Manager to move the.jsf files into the same directory as the.sh3 files. Online Manuals You can view most SmartCAM manuals online using Adobe Acrobat Reader. Install the Reader from the SmartCAM CD-ROM before you install SmartCAM. To view the instructions for using the Reader, select Help Contents Online Manuals. When the contents page for the online manuals opens, select the information button at the bottom of the page. Printing Manuals You can print any part or all of the online manuals from your printer using the File Print command in the Reader. It is also possible to take the.pdf files to a local print shop for printing and collating. The service that prints the manuals must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available from Adobe s WEB site, There are several methods that you can use to transmit the document.pdf files to a print shop. Use a compression program, such as PKZIP V4.02x, to compress the files to multiple diskettes. Your printing service must have an equivalent application to decompress the files and must have the capability of reading PC format diskettes. Send the files as an attachment to the printing service. Use a backup device such as a tape drive to archive the files to media, and then give the tape to the printing service. The printing service must have an equivalent system for extracting the files from the backup. Take the CD-ROM to the printing service site to extract the files. The printing service site must have a CD-ROM drive and an MS-DOS computer running Windows. Run the Expand program in the Windows directory to extract the compressed file from the CD-ROM onto the local hard drive. Use the Windows Run command or select expand.exe in File Manager to run Expand. Enter the name of the compressed file and the name of the destination file in response to the prompts. The manual files for your SmartCAM application are: afab\rpm02.pd_ Reference Manual for SmartCAM Advanced Fabrication (Production Milling) afab\dw03.pd_ SmartCAM Code Generation Guide afab\mw02.pd_ SmartCAM Communicate User Guide afab\cw03.pd_ SmartCAM Customization Manual afab\ew02.pd_ SmartCAM Edit Plus User Guide SmartCAM Advanced Fabrication 4 Version 9.0 for Windows

5 The manuals for the CAM Connections are: ccdxf\ccv7x.pd_ SmartCAM CAM Connections version 7.x manual ccamcon\camcon.pd_ SmartCAM CAM Connection Reference Manual V9.0 Known Limitations Assist Gas The Assist Gas input field is missing from the Operation tab for the Burner operation type. To add Assist Gas to the operation parameters for a Burner step, use one of the following methods: Use a user-defined variable to add the setting to the Tool Notes. For information about user-defined variables, refer to the SmartCAM Customization Manual. Assign the Laser operation type to the step, and enter values for only those parameters that apply to the burning process. This problem will be corrected in the next version of SmartCAM Advanced Fabrication. Using Go To The Go To Step and Go To Tool functions in the Job Operation Planner do not interact properly with the list view and graphic view. Do not select elements from the list view or graphic view for input to these dialog boxes. Type in the step number or tool number. If you open the Go To dialog box and select an element from the graphic view, the cursor disappears. Press the ESC key to bring it back. Using the Face Function The Create User Element Face option calls the wrong macro to perform its function. To correct this problem, use the Windows File Manager to locate the file fab_face.mcl and rename the file to face.mcl. If you installed SmartCAM in the default configuration, the file is in the subdirectory \sm9\shared\sysmcl. Note If you are also using a SmartCAM milling product, do not rename the file. Contact your reseller for assistance. Defining Subroutines If you create a sub call with the Use Active Tool/Layer switch on, use Edit Explode to break the geometry into separate elements before you attempt to use Property Change to change the tool path. Edit Property Chg Holes/Points The following note does not appear in the online Help topic Changing the Properties of Holes or Points : To change points to holes there must be a step assigned to the elements. If the points were specified on a layer, you must specify a tool and a tool angle. You can use the Annotate feature in Help to add the note to your topic as follows: From the menu bar in the application, select Help Search to open the Search dialog box. In the text field, type Holes/ Points and click Show Topics. Then select Changing the Properties of Holes or Points and click Go To to display the topic. From the menu bar in the Help topic, select Edit Annotate to open the Annotate dialog box. Type the above note in the Annotation box and click Save. Note that the Help topic now has a green paper clip at the beginning of the first line of text. Each time you use this topic you can click the green paper clip to open the Annotate dialog box and read the note. Descriptions for Lasers, Burners, and Cutters The kerf width descriptions displayed in the Planner for lasers, burners, and cutters show a diameter of 1,000,000 for all tools. To display the appropriate diameters, close SmartCAM and follow the instructions below. 1. Use a text editor to open the file fautodsc.fmt. If you installed SmartCAM in the default configurations, the file is in sm9\fab\josdef\. 2. Near the beginning of the file, after the other extern statements, add the following line: extern float kerf_width 3. Toward the end of the file, find the procedure tool_ Change the format statement for that tool to the following: format( %-0.3f dia., kerf_width); Version 9.0 for Windows 5 SmartCAM Advanced Fabrication

6 4. Save and close the file. The kerf width descriptions will now display properly. Code Generation Using Subroutines If you create subprograms that code tool center rather than part profile (Machine Define question 120) and contain closed profiles, make sure that the last element of the first profile is tangent to the first element of the second profile. Location of Machine Files SmartCAM version 9.0 requires that.smf and.tmp files be located in the same directory. It is strongly recommended that you maintain the default location for these files. Error Message The following error message is not documented in the reference manual. 4106: The application requires a template file to generate code. To generate NC code, you must specify a.tmp file. From the Code dialog box, select the Machine button to open the Job Information dialog box. Select the Machine tab and enter the path and name for the.tmp file. The template file must be in the same directory as the machine (.smf) file. Address for Technical Support If you have a valid Technical Support contract, you can contact CAMAX Technical Support via at csupport@camax.com. SmartCAM and CAM Connection are registered trademarks of Point Control Co., a subsidiary of CAMAX Manufacturing Technologies, Inc.; SmartCAM Advanced 3-D Machining, SmartCAM Advanced Fabrication, SmartCAM Advanced Turning, SmartCAM Advanced Wire EDM, SmartCAM FreeForm Machining, SmartCAM Production Milling, SmartCAM Production Turning, AutoCAD SmartCAM Connection, CNC Process Model and Edit Plus are trademarks of Point Control Co., a subsidiary of CAMAX Manufacturing Technologies, Inc. All other products are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies. Third-party software is the sole property and responsibility of the developer. CAMAX Manufacturing Technologies does not guarantee any third-party products by CAMAX Manufacturing Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved. SmartCAM Advanced Fabrication 6 Version 9.0 for Windows