ProLIGHT 1000 Control Software PLTW Computer Integrated Manufacturing Program Interface •Standard Tool Bar •Program Window •Output Tool Bar •Status Bar •Input Tool Bar •Operator Panel • Position Readout •Help Functions •Homing The Mill •Machine Information Panel •Setting up Tool Libraries •Verify Window •Editing Functions •Jog Control Panel Program Interface Standard Tool Bar Help Print Cut/Copy/Paste Save File Open File New File Run/Pause/Stop Program. Verify Prog. Operator Panel Toggle Jog Control Toggle Output Toolbar Spindle On/Off Output # 1 On/Off Output # 2 On/Off Robot # 1 On/Off Robot # 2 On/Off Input Toolbar Emergency Stop Switch Safety Shield Indicator Plus Limit Input Indicator Minus Limit Input Indicator Robot # 1 Input On/Off Robot # 2 Input On/Off Operator Panel Optional Skip Skips lines in the program Optional Stop Run in Single that have a (M01) “/” Stops when Step Mode atis the beginning reached in theFeed Override programthe Overrides feeds set in the program by a percentage Stops Program Cycle Start Cycle Pause Immediately Spindle Speed Pauses Override programOverrides spindle speed set in program by a percentage Position Readout The position readout is used to determine the current position of the spindle/cutting tool. It can be used like a digital readout on a manual milling machine. X Axis Position Y Position ofAxis Spindle of Spindle Z Axis Position of Spindle Position Panel Menu Right click on the control panel to display the Fly-out Menu Position Panel Menu Change between Inch and Metric Units Set the current position to To Send the Set TheMill 0,0,0 a specified Machine coordinate Position Set the coordinate system to Work or one of six part coordinate systems Machine Information Panel Current Tool Number Current Feed Rate Set in The Number Program of Passes Block Made In The Sequence Current number of Program block being executed Elapsed Time of current job Current Diameter of Spindle speed Current current Total number set in the Coordinate cutting tool ofprogram blocks in theSystem program Verify Window The Verify Window is used to test the program code before attempting to cut a part. This option creates a simulation based on the code and the description of the tools in the tool library. (Click on the picture to show view a simulation) Verify Setup Select solid or Zoom centerline or toIn/Out represent Fit theand theSelects tool block in the block from three window predefined (All) views: Top, Front and Isometric Slide the bar to tilt the block in the window Slide the bar rotate the block Verify - Setup Stock Set the size of the stock in the verify Set the window origin of the stock (0,0,0). Most parts use the upper left corner Identifies the initial tool position. This is only used for verify and provides a reference for the verify process Verify - Setup Options Automatically refreshes the verify window when a change is made that would make the solid look different Centerline Refresh the Displays the Options: display when tool when a change is checked made that Shows rapid would movesmake made theby wireframe the tool look whendifferent checked. Jog Control Panel The jog control panel is used to move the table and spindle. It is operated by the Mouse or Keyboard Adjusts the jog Enables Keyboard feed rate: Slow Identifies Control (F4) Positive Y Axis Positive Z Axis (1in/min), incremental step (A) Step at .001 inch jog (up arrow) jog (plus sign) Med.(12in/min) distances when Step at .010 inch (B) Positive X Axis jog and jogging the (right arrow) Switches from Fast(50in/min) machine incremental to (C) Step at .100 inch continuous Negative Z Axis Negative X Axis jog Negative Y Axis jog (Minus sign) movement (Left Arrow) jog (Down Arrow) Jogging Click on the image. Notice how the position indicator changes as the machine is jogged Jog Control Panel Right clicking on the Jog Control Panel will produce a Fly-out Menu. Here the mill can be homed, sent to a position, docked, hidden or setup. Jog Control Panel Change the Feed rate for slow, medium and fast settings Set the incremental steps for A, B, and C Program Window The program window is were the NC code is entered. The window can be locked to prohibit accidental edits while jogging the machine using the keyboard. Program Window When the program window is gray the program is locked. To unlock the Program select - Edit - Unlock or hit Ctrl-L. Program Window Right Click in the program window to produce the fly-out menu Standard Cut/Copy/Paste Will Evaluate Jump to a selected code Automatically specific line renumbers the Saves the file number in program itsthe current Run program Verify the location without prompting Estimate how program without longprompting the program will take to run Status Bar Prompts the user or Shows status Shows whether provides current Show Show thethe state state of ofof Current Time Indicates thelock file has been Indicates the whether line number of program home informationcurrent Caps Number LockLock since last save the edit cursor and thethe total position ismodified valid number of lines Homing The Mill Homing means to move the spindle or cross slide to a fixed known position on the machine. Homing commands perform two functions: 1. To check against a specified coordinate for calibration loss. 2. To provide for quick machine set up when the part location does not vary. Help Functions The help function is easy to use and full of information. The four ways to access help are. •Selecting the Help button in some boxes •Selecting fromicon thein main menu •Select the help the Context help Help icon the in Standard thedialog Standard tool bar tool bar This is similar Context Helptoallows you to pick on an icon or area of context the help. It onlyinterface to get help on that item. program provides help on the elements of the current dialog box. Help Functions These options are available when you select help from the main menu bar Help Functions CNC codes and programming, Linear Interpolation, Circular Descriptions Interpolation, Canned of Cycle, concepts and features Subprogramming, Polar not coveredHoming elsewhere. Programming, the About Light Machines Machining Center, Using Covers menus, Corporation Customer and Cutter Compensation. toolbars, windows andquite Technical Support. Things that aren't screen elements common procedures but still crop up frequently. Help Functions Enter the text The index function allows you are you to search for help by for looking entering keywords andhere then selecting from a list of related topics As you type options related to you text appear here. Help Functions The save settings option prompts you to select which settings you wish to save Help Functions The restore setting allows you to restore settings to a user default or factory defaults Help Functions Selecting Tip Of The Day will produce a tip on using the WPLM1000 software. By default the program offers a tip every time the software is booted. CNC Milling Machine Axis The Milling machine moves along three Axis X, Y and Z. When programmed the mill moves to coordinates along the three axis. The origin is the point at which the three axis meet. The graphic shows the orientation of these axis. CNC Milling Machine Y Work Envelope Z X Machine Zero Workpiece or Home Part Reference Zero Position Table Part Reference Zero (PRZ) Position Yp D= tool diameter - x offset = D/2 Top View (0,0,0) PRZ Position Ym Cutting Tool Work Piece Xp Xm Machine Axes Part Axes - y offset = D/2 Part Reference Zero (PRZ) Position Zp Front View Xp Work Piece (0,0,0) PRZ Position Note: x offset = y offset = D/2 z offset= 0 Checking PRZ Send the Mill to a point above the x and Y zero to make sure the center of the cutting tool is over the top front corner. Tool Library Setting up the tool library properly is a critical step. Once the tool library is setup, however, it does not need to be changed unless a new tool is loaded into a an existing tool holder. During setup the tool is defined by its geometry, size, number of teeth and relative length (Height Offset). Tool Library Some of the information in the tool library is simply used when verifying programs. For instance, the NC program only directs the center of the tool so the verify program needs to know the diameter of each tool to show how much material is removed. The tool offsets and tool numbers, however, are very important when running programs with multiple tools. Each tool must be defined with a Tool Height Offset. Tool Setup The first step in setting up a tool library is to home the machine. The homing process send the mill to a known position along all three axis. The machine can be homed by: •Selecting Setup in the menu bar and then “Set/Check Home” •Holding the “Control” key and typing “H” •Right Clicking on the Jog Control Panel and selecting “Set/Check Home” Tool Height Offsets When a tool offset is Where doesthe the established mill spindle go control program when it isitsdirected calculates Height to a height move usingofthe.5? offset Tool Height offset Tool Setup Wizard A wizard is available for setting up tools. Select “Tool Setup Tool Wizard” from the main menu Click Next The first tool established a reference height Tool Setup Wizard Put the reference tool in the spindle click here. Click on Next Tool Setup Wizard Offset gage - Works as a continuity check. The light shine when a complete circuit is made byClick touching tool and Nextthe to continue table. After inserting the reference tool use the jog control panel to put the end of the cutting tool on the top of the block Tool Setup Wizard Remove the reference tool and then select next Your Done! Note that the Z coordinate in the Position Panel changes to zero. The current height is now the reference point. All other tools heights will now be compared to it. Tool Setup Wizard If the tool library has other tools may If defined the tool you is not in now selectyou them the library willto set thetotool need set itheight up offset first. Setting Up The Tool Library Enter the Diameter Type in a tool description Select the tool number. This will be identified as tool 1 (M06T1) Setting Up The Tool Library Select the type of Tool An End Mill has a flat bottom. A center A cutting is has a Bull Mill recommended nose radius on its since plunging corners is - Define often required the radius here Setting Up The Tool Library Select the type of Tool Define the taper angle Define A Ballthe Mill has a diameter itsStandard constantatradius (1/2 Drill A end pointon(118° Diameter) its end. Point) An engraving tool is a type of tapered cutter Setting Up The Tool Library Load the tool in the spindle and set the parameters Setting Up The Tool Library Jog the machine so the tool is touching the top of the reference point (Tool offset Gage) Setting Up The Tool Library Set the tool Height offset by clicking “Current Z” Setting Up The Tool Library Note that the position panel shows a z height of zero. The control software has calculated the difference between the reference tool and tool 1 Setting Up The Tool Library Tool Height offset Continue setting up as many tools as necessary in the library. Any time that a tool is removed from the tool holder (not the spindle) the height offset must be reset. Now lets take a closer look at some more options in the tool library. Setup Tool Library Station locations are used for mills Identifywith tool equipped Number of teeth Material (High automatic tool (flutes) in the Speed Steel is a changers. cutting tool good general Always apply any purpose changes before tool) continuing to the next tool. Editing Programs The following techniques are helpful when editing programs: Find - In the Edit Menu, Find can be used to search for specific text. This might be used to find a moves made to negative Z depths. Editing Programs The following techniques are helpful when editing programs: Replace - In the Edit Menu - Used to find specific text and replace it with a correction. Helpful in changing feed rates that have been placed all throughout the program. Editing Programs The following techniques are helpful when editing programs: Goto - Found in the Edit menu - Sends the edit cursor to a specified program line. This is helpful when it is necessary to make a change on a line that has been identified by the software as having an error.